Radiation with tissue expander

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited October 2009

    ccbaby- I too am "fire" red and itchy like crazy!! I finished radiation a little over a week ago and was told that it will get worse over the first 2 weeks following radiation and then start to heal. I am using Flamazine for the insane redness and now I am starting to peel also. The itching is driving me crazy and keeping me awake at night!! I was told 6 months until Exchange and I can see how much my skin needs to heal.

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  • FACECRAFTER
    FACECRAFTER Member Posts: 1,092
    edited October 2009
    Try triamcinalone ointment (available from your doc as a Rx,  for the itching...JUDY
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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited October 2009

    Triamcinalone fixed my itching...

    (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))

    rads girls.....

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009

    I now have blisters in the center of my chest and they were oozing last night! Yucko! I am going to ask today when I go in for my boost what to use on it.

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

    OH CHRISTY... SS !!!!!!!!!!!!! What did they say?

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited October 2009

    Thanks for the tip on the ointment. I am feeling a little better now. Peeling all over. I am still using the Flamazine cream and Aquaphor where it has peeled and I see new skin. My PS wants to expand me next week - 50 more cc's per breast. I do not think my skin, nor muscle is at all ready. Scary!

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009
    Laura....they said to lay off the silvadene for at least one night because my skin is trying to heal and that is making it too moist. There is really nothing i can put on it. I just have to wait it out. One of the nurses still said that my skin looks great...I said that I wold hate to see someone's that looks bad if mine looks good!!  She gave my skin an A-     I just can't believe it!
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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009
    Kerkle...I didn't know a person could still get expanded after rads are done?
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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited October 2009

    I wasn't sure either, but my PS said it was not a problem, we just have to wait for everything to heal first. I hope it all goes ok. I am worried about the pain.

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  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited October 2009
    Rads ended for me on July 3.  I waited a month and have been trying to expand more since.  It has not been easy,  a very slow and painfull process.  Let me know how it goes for you Kerkle.
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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2009

    Hello Ladies,

    About expanding after radiation I finished rads in July and i have been filled 60cc since then and so far so good no problems I am going to post my pic on the forum and you can see how my skin looks after radiation going to try to do it now.... 

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

    I was expanded 100cc at a time after rads with no problems.  It was painful for 2 days afterward, then it subsided and I'm fine!!  I was expanded to 600 cc.  Now I'm just waiting the six months till the exchange.  (BTW, I took 800mg -a medical dose- of Advil for the pain, and it was tolerable,)  JUDY

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  • Carolyn2008
    Carolyn2008 Member Posts: 202
    edited October 2009

    Wow 100cc at a time that is something i could only take max 30 at one time then i said that is enough for today..(lol)

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  • Lauren3
    Lauren3 Member Posts: 289
    edited October 2009

    I'm glad I found this thread.  I have a TE in now, fully filled (done at the time of surgery), and I'm supposed to start rads in November.  I guess I'll need to talk to my PS in the meantime.  He told me to call him when treatment was finished but we didn't think I would need rads at the time. 

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  • LynnVA
    LynnVA Member Posts: 174
    edited October 2009

    This is a great thread..........I think fully expanded before rads is the way to go if possible, at least on the side that is to be radiated. I was able to tolerate 120cc at a time w/ a fill before rads, after rads anything over 50cc is at least a weeks worth of being miserable.  I have stopped expansion on the non rads side trying to get the rads side to catch up and stretch.  I have more fill on the rads side but you wouldn't know it to look at it.  Now I have to worry about the fill pushing back on my ribcage instead of pushing the muscle and skin out.  I wish I had been fully expanded on the rads side before I started radiation, at the time I didn't know I could have pushed the issue and done just that.  Expansion went so well before radiation I just didn't think it would be that big of a problem after.  I'm going to take my time and try a few more times, just work with what I have.  What else can ya do?  :)

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  • strngwmn39
    strngwmn39 Member Posts: 77
    edited October 2009

    Hello Everyone, 

    Just started RT last week with my TE's. I'm being radiated on the left side where I had an invasive cancer (only DCIS on the right). I was expanded at the time of surgery with Alloderm to 360ccs and my rad onc said no more until after treatment and my plastic surgeon is coordinating with him (scared at this thought because I was told originally I would have more expansions before treatment than this).

    I'm starting to have prickly heat and burning sensations, but so far my skin is ok. (Treatment #5 is today). They are radiating a wide field with me, and using a bolus every other treatment - I'm not seeing that anywhere else on these boards. Is anyone else getting a bolus every other time? I'm seeing alot of women getting one week at the end.

    Just curious. (trying to predict what I"m in for as far as skin reactions!)

    Michelle 

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009
    Micelle...I also have a wide area of radiation. I got a bolus 4 out of every 5 treatments on the breast and under arm area and I had a total of 25 treatments. I also got a bolus (a different type) everytime for the middle of my chest. Now I am getting boosts.
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  • Estepp
    Estepp Member Posts: 6,416
    edited October 2009

    Ladies who will need to expand AFTER rads... and those that are trying that now. First.. I want to give you a HUGE (((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))))))))

    Second.... FACECRAFTER ( Judy) on these boards is doing the same thing. She's doing well. She is SOOOOOOOOOOOO nice and easy to talk to. Please contact her about this.. I bet she will ease your mind and heart on this.... YOU WILL LOOK GREAT after exchange !!!!! YES YOU WILL!

    CHRISTY..... DEAR LADY>>>>> YOU ARE ALMOST DONE DONE DONE! I am MORE than happy for you !!!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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

    Ps.. Christy... I think you and I need to start a thread for ladies like us... I think it is needed. ]

    Chemo... mast/Te... fully expanded... rads... exchange....

    SO MANY ladies need to have our knowledge on this. After you get with your PS about the timing of your exchange.... get with me on this ..OK?  If Not .. let me know.. I will start it now.... either way.. I  would have just been SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy if there had been an active thread about this a year ago.. ( actually more).. when I was in agony going through this process ALONE.....

    Anywho...... I am going to do it.. and I think you could add to this amazingly too!

    Let me know.. ok....:)

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited October 2009

    Next week, Thursday, I go for my first post-radiation filling. I will let you all know how it goes.

    Regarding the bolus question, I had the bolus over the whole area 2X a week for 25 treatments and then for the "boost" it was used every day for 5 straight days (30 treatments in all). My skin held up, but it did get burnt, "fire" red and is now peeling in large chunks. I am shedding like a snake and it is over the entire breast and the "box" around it. Very itchy, not too painful.

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

    I could have been expanded fully before my radiation, but did not have time.  They did not want to expand the no-radiated side because it would have been in the way of the Tx.  Now I'm fully expanded, 100cc at a time, then the last one at 60cc. for a total of 600cc on each side.  It hurts, but only for a few days after each fill.  The skin had no problems, other than some redness.  And I'm an older person, so my skin is less elastic than you younger girls.  So don't fret.  Do it ahead of time, if you have the time, and if you don't it will still be OK..!!  Hang in there. 

    BTW, for bolus Tx, I had mine every other day, for what it's worth.   JUDY

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  • ccbaby
    ccbaby Member Posts: 985
    edited October 2009

    Thanks Laura and yes, I agree, we need to start a thread. The ONLY diference between you and I is that I got my Mast & TE first before chemo, but I think it is the same thing anyway.

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

    I find out next week whether or not I will have more fills after 34 zaps to my right breast.  I am pretty confident if I want it the PS will say it is okay.  I have been dilligent about vitamen e  on my skin and I stretch and massage my foob and hope the efforts will enable me to have a quick exchange to a nice more "user friendly" implant. 

    You all know how tight from the neck down to the rib cage the te can be.  My PS has always encouraged me to stretch and exercise and put on lotion.   I know it helps. 

    Congratulations to those who are done with RADS and also, I love we keep talking about what works!!!!!!  Thank you.

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  • DiDiT
    DiDiT Member Posts: 135
    edited October 2009

    Consult yesterday -  PS concern with rad w/TE is that the non radiated boob will get in the way of the beam radiating the chest wall of the L breast -

    Potential Options - unilateral mx & TE then rad -  postponing prophylactic mx - Rationale:  normal breast tissue more pliable - I'm sure my right breast won't get in the way, if I'm on my back, it'll be migrating over to my armpit!   I understand that!

    Continue with bilat MX and not fill the unaffected breast completely?  this sounds a little creepy, but maybe ...

    Reduce breast size significantly -   not a consideration..

    SO, still not sure - Again, don't want the cancer back, so want adequate radiation, but I also wanted least number of surgeries, want boobs, and want boobs the same size as I have...

    I want it all!!!   I thought I had heard all the arguments for no recon before rads, this one was new!

    Anyone else told this?

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  • kerkle
    kerkle Member Posts: 147
    edited October 2009

    I just finished radiation and was expanded to 230cc's. No problem with getting to the needed boob. I am now going to go a little bit bigger - add 50 cc's per side. My PS said this is no problem. I would have the bilateral (One surgery is huge and you do not wanna do THIS one twice! It is manageable, but painful). Have him put the TE in and fill it only partway. An other lady on this site "FACECRAFTER" did this and she seemed to have great success. She finished her fills after radiation. It delays the exchange a bit (by 6 months) but it is so worth it.

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  • DiDiT
    DiDiT Member Posts: 135
    edited October 2009

    Thanks kerkle for the advice!  I'll contact "facecrafter" too!  I got alot of info yesterday, but am thinking she said I'd be about 650cc to stay the same size?

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

    DiDit...if I were you.. and were given these options...

    I would Bi-lat... fill FILL the Rads boob as full as you can in the 8 week rads window.. ( I got 100% full).. then fill the NON rads boob after rads.. it will go fast... exchange when they tell you you can. Where a fake insert on the flatter  non filled TE. Might be creepy.. but only for the 6 weeks of rads...Good Luck! You can do this and it will WORK for you !!!!

    They made the rad beams to accommodate ME... I was filled 100% on both sides... and had ALL areas radiated on my left side.

    This made more work for my rads team... but I told my Rads ONco.... they should be trained to do this. He told me... THEY ARE.. but do not like it. God Speed!

    PS... I checked with MD Anderson Prior to bring this to my Rads Onco... and he knew I knew what could be done.... I felt blessed that he works WITH MD Anderson Rads Onco Regularly. .. so I did not have to fight much at all for what I wanted.. Now... the rads techs were not my friends.. but... who cares.

    L

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

    Laura is right.   I would  choose the fully expanded rads side first, and choose the fully blown up version second.  You get  over the creepy-ness.  Good luck to you.  I will be off the boards for a week without access to a computer, so,  know that I'm not ignoring you!!  JUDY

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  • DiDiT
    DiDiT Member Posts: 135
    edited October 2009

    Laura and Judy - thank you both - am so so glad I found this site, can't imagine figuring all of this out.  It's been great having access to 'experienced advice'!!!!

    My Ca Center is affiliated w/MD Anderson as well, and the Rads Onco down here said he'd do whatever, I just wasn't too 'reassured' as he admitted he hadn't any experience with it.

    I think getting the radiated side filled and having to live with 'uneven' for a few months is a great trade-off!!!!!    I'd gladly do that, rather than another surgery - or no recon before rads - I was just kinda surprised by the proposal - but very much reassured by your voices of experience!!!!

    Thanks Again and Much Love!

    Di Di 

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

    WONDERFUL!!! You are Welcome!!

    JUDY... enjoy your week.. whatever you are doing..:)

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