Have you had rads and TEs with no problems?

A friend of mine did. What they did was overfill the rads side to make it bigger with more extra skin in case of problems. She also had allograft skin. I don't know exactly how they did it but it turned out good!

I, too, had a BMX with TE's. I have had 18 of 25 treatments. My non-cancerous side TE was partially deflated prior to rads so it wouldn't be in the way of the beams. I was upset about it at first. Now I am thankful because it's more comfortable than the filled TE! I have been using Miaderm after treatments and aloe vera at night. The skin over the cancerous side TE is thinner and I can kind of see the TE but I am really sailing through this well. I will be having DIEP next summer. My PS says you have to wait six months at least to let the skin heal. There are more complications when you get permanent implants after rads instead of DIEP, although DiEP is a major surgery that I am not looking forward to. I will be re-inflated as soon as I am done with rads. You must still be catching your breath after your diagnosis and surgery! There is a lot of support to be found on these discussion boards!

I had rads with fully expanded TEs.  No opening of the skin, no blisters, did have peeling and redness and a kinda gross grayish color.  Achy and tired as time went on.  All good now with slight discoloration.

I'm about a year ahead of you.  I managed to hide from my RO until the fills were completed, and I have my exchange surgery set for November 12th - about 9 months after finishing rads.  My PS likes to get as far past 6 months, and as close to a year as possible.  I'm sure it'll be fine!!   I'm not anticipating any problems - I can't wait to for the swap!!

Thanks Andrea. 

I'm definitely looking forward to getting these things out, but honestly, in the scheme of things, I don't really complain about them.  They're different shapes, so I wear an open shirt over tank tops.    Sleeping is strange - my Lazyboy and I have bonded over this year - LOL.  Hang in there - the time goes faster than you think - for me, since I got my surgery date, I'm more annoyed by the TE's and more impatient for it to get here than I was for the whole rest of the time.

Andrea, I had a left UMX and SNB with TE, and the plan was to get an implant. When the pathology report came back, I had one positive lymph node which nobody expected me to have. That changed everything, and I had to get chemo as well as rads. The PS overfilled my TE before rads, to compensate for possible contraction. The 25 rads went very well, and I had no serious skin issues at all. Unfortunately now, 3 months out from rads, the damage is obvious. There is contraction, and the boob with the TE has become visibly smaller. My PS said she was going to fill it again to make sure there is enough skin to work with - not looking forward to that at all! The implant is not a possibility anymore, because I will definitely get capsular contraction. She will do a DIEP flap next year in May, 10 months out from rads.  

Andrea623 - I did end up with some cc but  my ps 'fixed' it when he did my exchange surgery.  I had PT after my exchange but if you feel you'd benefit from it before then you should go.  It can't hurt!  The massage part of it was so helpful.  I never thought I'd feel even remotely comfortable with the TE's but by the time it was time for my exchange they really didn't bother me.  The exchange surgery itself is so much easier than the mast.  I still can't truly lay on my stomach without something uder my chest but I use a pillow and it's just fine.  The pressure of the silicone implants when on your tummy doesn't feel any better than the TE's (for me)!  Good luck!

Andrea623,

I had 6 1/2 weeks of radiation my PS gave TE with the ports that are on my side..I used Pure Aloevera I bought from cvs right after i had each Tx and used acquphor at bedtime had no issues with my skin at all..will be having exchange this month on the 23rd can't wait ...good luck