radiation wth expqnders

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rayofsun
rayofsun Member Posts: 204
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I am wondering what peoples experience is with expander placement and radiation? I am interested in hearing peoples experiences as I am at a decision as to where to move forward.Either way my final reconstruction surgeries will be delayed.

thanks, ray

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  • angicpa
    angicpa Member Posts: 67
    edited February 2010

    Ray,

    I have an expander on the right side, partially filled. The expander is being referred to as a "spacer", as I plan to have a DIEP when the time comes. I have had 10 of 28 treatments. I had a mastectomy on Jan 4, 2010. The PS inserted and filled the expander at that time.  He also used Alloderm in the surgery.  The only effect having the expander has had is to reduce the number of treatments from 33 to 28.  Why? I don't know. I just know the rad onc said 33 treatments, then in the next sentence corrected herself to 28 because I have an expander.  Not much to offer, but if anything else comes up regarding the expander and treatments I'll post again.

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited February 2010

    I did rads with my tissue expander in place.

    The expander was filled to 250 cc's. I did not have any fills during rads. I then waited 8 weeks to continue with the fills.

    My skin took really well to rads. No blisters or redness. Just sensitive. I applied cream 2- 3 x a day.

    I had my tissue expander placed March 27th 2008 and I just had my exchange surgery Jan 28th 2010. So, I waited 22 months. I wanted the skin to stretch as much as possible. I was in no rush.

    It can be done.

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  • thenewme
    thenewme Member Posts: 1,611
    edited February 2010

    Hi Rayofsun,

    I had double mx with immediate expander placement.  Had to have a second surgery to debride some incision necrosis, but it was relatively minor.  Then I did chemo and had my expander fills at the points in chemo where white counts were highest (to reduce risk of infection).  

    Plastic surgeon said I had to be completely expanded before starting radiation.  I did radiation with no apparent effects on the reconstruction or expanders.  Still have the expanders in, and PS wants to wait a full year after rads before doing the exchange surgery, since she says by a year out, most radiation-related skin/tissue changes (capsular contraction, tightening, etc) have stabilized.  I finished rads in July, and so far she hasn't seen any negative effects, other than the fact that the expanders are slowly migrating off to the sides, LOL (apparently this is normal and very correctable during the exchange surgery!).  I'm so anxious to get my exchange in a few months!   I hate having to wait so long with thes dang expanders in, but in the scheme of things they're not bad.  I'd rather be safe than sorry, so to speak!

    Good luck with the decision, and feel free to ask or PM if I can answer any questions!

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  • Jayne_in_UK
    Jayne_in_UK Member Posts: 517
    edited February 2010

    Ray,

    I also had rads with my expander in and partially expanded. It is interesting that some say you must be fully expanded and others say partially, I don't know why this is. Neither my BS (she is an oncoplastic surgeon so BS & PS combined) nor my rads onc anticipated any problems and so far, so good. My skin did well and didn't burn, the expander was not affected so far as I can tell. I finished rads in December 2009 and I will not have my exchange for at least a year after end of rads. I'm not sure as yet what type of reconstruction I will have but I have plenty of time to decide.

    Good luck with making your decision.  Feel free to ask any further questions.

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