radiation with expander

Hi!

I have expanders and my PS said radiation could damage the expanders but not all the time. I was very fortunate to not need radiation but I did not know if I was going to until after my BLM with reconstruction surgery. I noticed in your signature that you also have stage IIa with zero lymph node involvement. How come you need radiation? I would think you would not because you had a mastectomy and you had zero lymph nodes. I am also triple positive and I had a 1.9 cm tumor and a grade 2.

I hope you had a nice Holiday!

Hi Weimar-

 I had rads over my expanders and they did say that the cosmetic outcome may not be as good. After they overexpanded me, the rads did act like a shrink wrap so it became tighter. I had my rads in june-aug of 06, and my 2nd part of recon in 11/06. I did have capsular contracture, possibly b/c I had a saline implant. Or, b/c I had also been smoking. But, I had that exchanged out in 4/09, and so far, so good. It looks great!!

 you do have a higher risk of capsular contracture with rads over your expanders. But, it can be done and you can still achieve great results. 

For my 2nd surgery (4/09), I went the  route of silicone b/c it feels better and it projects more. I had to have alloderm with it and I haven't had any issues.

Hopefully, you aren't a smoker - I have been smoking on and off. But, that would increase your risk of cc. 

I also didn't think I'd be having rads, and my docs were split. So, I went to a hospital with a tumor board. And, then they explained to me the pros and cons if I had rads now vs if something were to come back and what my options would be at that time. It was still a very difficult and personal decision.   

Good luck to you!!!

I will share my experience with expander and radiation with you. My case was kind of one the fence on whether I needed rads. I even got a second opinion. I ended up doing the rads afterall. I did not have good luck with my radiation and expander. First of all, it was so uncomfortable laying on the table every day for 6 weeks with that expander. They had to radiate me in 5 different fields and it took 20 minutes everyday.  The radiation burned my skin very badly and caused my skin to thin out. About a month after rads ended, a hole opened up along my mastectomy scar line and caused my expander to get contaminated. That meant I could not get my implant as previously planned because it would get infected. (I would have to wait 2 years)  I had the uncomfortable expander for 10 months for nothing because of the radiation.  I had to get a flap surgery instead.

I don't want to discourage you if you need radiation. Most women have good luck with the expander. My experience is not typical but can happen. I wish the best for you.

I had rads with a full expander in and I did really well.  Good luck!