Radiation with tissue expander

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited September 2009

    And Laura will say.........................

    wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    YEAH!

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited September 2009

    Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • josirus
    josirus Member Posts: 67
    edited September 2009

    Thanks Ladies for all your whoops of joy alongside me!

    I've been really itchy the last three days all over my breast. I've been putting on Aveeno but maybe I'll try the Vitamin E cream...any other suggestions for itchiness? When I have time later, I will peruse through the history of this thread.

    Have a wonderful day...two work days till the weekend!

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited September 2009

    triamcinalone cream works well.  You might have to get it from your doctor.

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited September 2009
    I am sooooo itchy too!! I saw Dr.Lambert today and she told me she has a good prescription with cortisone in it to help the itchiness. I can share!!Laughing 
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  • josirus
    josirus Member Posts: 67
    edited September 2009

    My itching has gotten better, but that's because I am now peeling. Like when a sunburn peels. I am peeling around the expander, on the skin that is closest to me (armpit, top and bottom of expander). The skin underneath looks like a pretty normal color. I bet I'll be blotchy.

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited September 2009

    One last treatment tomorrow! Yay! But, I am very burnt and my doctor is worried the skin will open up so she prescribed me special cream with antibiotics in it. I am sooooo red and itchy and burny - ouch and was told the skin gets redder for up to 2 weeks out of radiation. Now I wait at least 6 months until the exchange and I will be adding 50cc to each breast as soon as my skin is healed enough. Bigger boobs!! yay!!  

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited September 2009

    you girls sound like rads were hell for you... the burning...I am SO SORRY... let your skin heal the six months.... it might give you a better turn out!!! God Bless!

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited September 2009

    It actually wasn't so bad until this last week. For my BOOST, they are using the bolus for the last 5 treatments and that is making all the difference. Now I see why they wait at least 6 months post radiation, the damage to the skin is there. I am still optomistic for a good exchange. I will see my PS mid October and see what he says.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited September 2009

    Stay optimistic... "cause I know it will work sisters... BAM!

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited September 2009

    Hello Ladies,

    I have not been on here for a while now but just to give you hope i finished my radiation July 16/09 and i just seen my ps early sept and she said the skin looks good and i am now booked for my exchange end of Nov so hang in there and keep putting aloe on it all the time that is what i did and i was burnt and blistered as well so keep positive and your skin will bounce back...and the exchange will be great as well for all of us.Wink

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  • auorarz
    auorarz Member Posts: 14
    edited September 2009

    Carolyn2008 I am so happy for you and it is soo encouraging to hear that rads with expanders can be successful. I wasn't too hopeful looking online at some of the recon sites but with the help of people like you posting your experience and my ps's optimism I am hopeful too.

    I do have a question though, I had bilat mx with alloderm 8/19 finished my last fill yesterday approx 930cc had stimulator for rads also yesterday. I need 28 sessions 22 will be directed toward axilla (multiple pos nodes though small 1 cm mass in breast but brca 1 so... actually my mam was neg I had enlarged axilllary lymphs and a biopsy of nodes revealed ca !) 6 will be at chest wall, are most of you ladies having rads  at chest wall or axilla or both?

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited September 2009

    I am done radiation!! Yay!!!!!! I had radiation to the entire area...But remember,with TE, the "inside" is now on the outside (they lifted the pec muscle to encase the implant, that is why my boost was with the BOLUS all week. Anyhow, I will keep my fingers crossed as the next 3 months will tell all with how well the skin heals.

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited September 2009

    YOU DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited September 2009

     I have a question....I have 5 more regular rads and (maybe) 5 boosts to go. Should I book an appointment with my PS after rads are finished so that he can see my skin now compared to later on? He told me before rads to see him 3 months after, but I just wonder if I should go sooner so that he can have some comparison? What have you all done?

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited September 2009

    Hey Christy.. I was just about to sign off.. when I saw this..

    I set up my own appt. about 6 weeks after rads.. because I knew my skin looked great. and my rads onco told me I could have exchange 3 months after.. and I wanted for PS to agree. He did.

    So.. the only reason I saw PS early was because of how good I did with rads and skin...etc...

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited September 2009

    Hi auorarz i had both for rads....

    Christy I didn't see my ps until 3 months after rads...

    kerkle congratulations you did itWink

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited September 2009

    Hello everyone.  I will see my ps in oct....I am so hoping for good news.  I have been experiencing of late, a series of muscle spams and tightness especially at  my rib cage- almost at the bottom edge. Anyone else experience this?????

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited September 2009

    Hi Jess I also experienced the tightness at my rib cage as well the ps said the most sensitive skin is at the bottom of our breast area and mine is still very tight but she said after the surgery they will fix that.

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited September 2009

    That is such a relief to hear because I always worry it is something worse!!!!

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited September 2009

    Well, today I went for a massage and the woman who worked on me very carefuly massaged around my back and rib cage.  You would not believe the relief from the pain ANd the worry it is something else.  She also helped me with ideas on how to move my body and hold my body when I drive.   I guess I seem to be tweaking the muscle lying over the te and it tightens up all the way down to the base of my back.  My big question now is, why did I wait so long for this?  I am a fan of physical therapy massage!!!!!!

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  • living4today
    living4today Member Posts: 215
    edited September 2009

    Hey Jess,

    Thanks for sharing your information.  I actually had so much rib/back pain that I had xrays last monday.  I have been doing heat and aleeve 2 pills twice a day and it is a bit better but still real painful.  Think I will try message....thanks again...

    ps.  those of you who get your exchange in 3 months....so lucky, my ps said I have to wait for 6 months.  So next March, it will be:)

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited September 2009

    living4today--you are welcome.  I hope your xrays will come back b9. 

    I will find out October 13 whether or not I have to wait till december or have it soon. I think this latest "tightening and pain" experience may delay my exchange. 

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited September 2009

    Be glad for 6 months.  My PS always waits 9 months.  And my skin is in good shape!!  JUDY

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited September 2009

    You are right Facecrafter.  My PS said some wait for a year!   OMG!!!!!!!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited September 2009

    Lordy sisters... I waited 3 1/2 months... my PS said 6-12 months too. When he saw me.. that is when he knew.. I DO NOT KNOW HOW HE KNEW... but he did. also... Rads doc and PS said that AlloDerm is giving light to us rads and expander girls... :)

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  • jrgolomb
    jrgolomb Member Posts: 1,236
    edited September 2009

    Good to know Estepp!!!!  I have October to hear news and I am going for the exchange!!!!!

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  • Jennyi1
    Jennyi1 Member Posts: 102
    edited October 2009

    Hello everybody,

    I don't post much, but here is a little hx: I had a bilat MX 3 weeks ago and had TE's placed. I  was just curious, did any of you have stretch marks to the breast area after so many fills? Thanks

     Jenny.

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009

    Jenny...Yes, I noticed the stretch marks during my fills.

    I have 4 more boosts to go and I will be done with rads. My radiologist says that my skin looks good, actually 'more than good' - his words. I think my skin looks awful, it is very pink and itchy on my inner chest and black under my arm, so I would hate to see someone that had it worse than me! Laura, I am going to call my PS in about 6 weeks and have him take a look at me. Hopefully, I can have my exchange sooner like you did!

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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited October 2009

    Good Christy! He will know... :) Let me know.. I am excited for you to be DONE!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOOOOO

    I did not get stretchmarks from expanding. I was fully expanded in 6 weeks to 420cc.

    I used cocoa butter three times a day on my breasts...

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