Anyone had / having a sternectomy?

Angelfalls
Angelfalls Member Posts: 849
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hello, I hope you don't mind me bursting in like this. It's been a long time since I visited this site, but I know that I'll find the support and info I'm in need of again... I was first diagnosed in April 2003 and had a mast, ANC, lat dorsi recon, chemo, rads and Tamoxifen. Then, in Sept. 2006, I had a recurrence in my internal mammary nodes which was treated with rads, followed by an ooph in Jan 2007 and a switch to Arimidex. My annual CT scan has now picked up a further recurrence in my sternum. Bone scan and another CT scan show no further spread, so my onc is supporting me in pushing for a sternectomy to remove the diseased section of breast bone (the body of the sternum).



The problem is that here in the UK, there are very few cases of this having been done, so my team is having trouble finding someone who has the necessary experience to perform the op. So, I was wondering if any of you might have any experience of this or any info on sternectomy operations or surgeons. If so, I'd be really interested to hear from you. Take care and stay strong, Angelfalls xx

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Comments

  • steffief
    steffief Member Posts: 30
    edited November 2011

    I had one about 3 years ago. During the testing I had done at initial diagnosis the only place mine had spread to was my sternum. I had mastectomy, chemo, sternum resection and radiation. I have been NED ever since. They made my sternum out of mesh and cement. Chest always feels tight and not normal. The recovery was kind of hard mostly the breathing part. If you have specific questions let me know.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited November 2011

    Just a suggestion...you might want to post in IV forum, they might have more experience with this and be able to answer your questions.  I wish you the best in your search and hope everything goes ok.

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  • Angelfalls
    Angelfalls Member Posts: 849
    edited November 2011

    Thanks for your reply, Steffie. I'm sorry to hear that you are still having problems 3 years on. Do you feel the op was worth it? I hope you don't mind me asking, but which bit of your sternum did you have removed? And did they take the whole bone or just a piece of it? If you prefer not to go into detail on an open forum, please PM me. Hope to hear from you soon, Angelfalls

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