IMPLANTS 1st CANCER 2nd ---ANYONE ELSE IN MY SHOES? NEED ADVICE

amv4620
amv4620 Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

Hello,

  Recently diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcenoma stage I.  It is small (7mm) in size and I am opting for lumpectomy and radiation treatments.  I feel very fortunate but know I still have a long road to recovery BUT I'm finding the specialists are stumped with my situation so I'm hoping that someone can tell me if they have had similar experiences and what direction they took.

I have had cosmetic breast implants for 8 years.  Once my lump was found, a biopsy was done and the implant was nicked. Now I am size B on the left and size D on the right.  I'm in my early 40's and regularly wear fitted clothes and bikinis.  I want to stay in my normal place as I battle through this challenge -- stay in my normal zone. 

I have to do something as the bad implant is still in. I will be having surgery as soon as I make some of these decisions.  I am struggling with removing the implants all together or putting in an expander temporarily until 6-12 months after radiation.  If I do the expander, I can still remove the implants or elect to get a new left one after it is safe. The doctors I have been speaking to are heavy duty reconstruction specialists and I can't seem to get them out of that reconstruction mentality and give me a sense of my situation.

Thoughts? Other options that I missed?  Risks?

Thank you

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Comments

  • Shrek4
    Shrek4 Member Posts: 1,822
    edited July 2010

    I honestly don't see what is so hard... surgery to replace the ruptured implant and at the same time remove the tumor. Why would you need expanders if the implant had already expanded your skin for so many years?

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  • rilkespanther
    rilkespanther Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2010

    I'd get a second opinion especially as you mention poor medical care. I went out of town to an NCI center because I couldn't find answers at home. Insurance paid

    I lost an implant (under pecs) due to a seroma (not infected thank God!) and tear in my skin.  Started all over with 50cc in tissue expander. Also replaced 2nd implant and 'upsized.' Final results were good.

     Do what it takes for breasts to match. One consideration is that radiation may limit your options with implants! 

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  • amv4620
    amv4620 Member Posts: 4
    edited August 2010

    6 weeks of radiation will impact and destroy the implant

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  • vanderlady
    vanderlady Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2010

    I had 1.2 cm invasive ductal and was able to have a unilateral nipple sparing mastectomy.  Had the TE for about 6 months, now with implants. They gave me the choice of lumpectomy with radiation or mastectomy with no other treatment.  I chose the latter. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2010

    Why not just remove the breast altogether and do immediate reconstruction. With an implant in there you don't need to be expanded at all. That's what I did..... 

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