Fat Grafting post mastectomy Radiation for scar tissue tightness

dpms
dpms Member Posts: 26
edited June 2014 in Pain

My mom had a modified radical mastectomy on her right breast on December 10, 2012. She had stage 3A breast cancer. 

She has now completed her Chemotherapy which consisted of the ACT regiment, and just last month finished her radiation. 

Since even before her radiation she had started to experience EXTREME tightness on her chestwall which of course only got much much worse during radiation. She said it feels like she is wearing an iron bra that is 3 sizes too small and just pulling at her chest. She also feels her ribs poking into her underarm (it seems the skin and tissue have thinned out significantly and the arm/shoulder is being pulled down by the scars onto her ribs). She is in excruciating discomfort 24/7!

One plastic surgeon at UCSF recently recommended FAT GRAFTING, as a noninvasive procedure that can be done before a full reconstruction. We are told this can break scar tissue with needles and inject fat from the abdomen into the chest wall to create a buffer so it feels like the skin/tissue is not stuck to the wall. The procedure is suppose to last one hour, no incisions or cuts - just the use of needles, in and out of the hospital on the same day, one week full recovery. 

Since a tissue transfer reconstruction cannot happen from 6months - 1 year post radiation, this is the first procedure we have heard that may provide some kind of relief - WE HOPE. 

Has anyone heard of FAT GRAFTING? Has anyone had it done? If so, what was your experience and the subsequent results of the procedure? Were there any side effects? 

Just trying to get all the information that we can! Hope you can help! 

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Comments

  • M360
    M360 Member Posts: 356
    edited December 2013

    I am interested in such and if your mother had such. How did this work out for her? I have the exact situation of pulling and skin tightness.  Will they do such if you are still in treatment such as Xeloda or other chemotherapy?

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  • babs6287
    babs6287 Member Posts: 2,021
    edited January 2014

    I am thinking of doing fat grafting on my radiated side but my PS doesn't think insurance will pay-what have you all experienced with insurance and their paying for this?  Help!!!!

    Babs

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  • dpms
    dpms Member Posts: 26
    edited January 2014

    Hi M360. Apologies for such a late reply! My mom's symptoms seem to have only gotten worse. The tightness on the chest wall has increased, and so has the pulling of her shoulder (from what we think are are the scar bands and muscle contracture). We have not tried fat grafting yet as we wanted to wait a little longer before under going any procedure. It is now 6 months after her treatment was completed. We are again exploring that option along with recostructive surgery (would have to wait another 3 months at least), and are also consulting with an orthopedic surgeon this week. 

    Have you had any luck with your symptoms? What are you going through? Mom has been taking Dilaudid about twice a day now to try and dull the pain. 

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  • cinnamonsmiles
    cinnamonsmiles Member Posts: 779
    edited January 2014

    Has your mother tried occupational therapy with a skilled, trained OT that is good & has experience with scar tissue adhesions after breast cancer? There is a technique called Myofascial Release. I spent about 5.5-6 months in OT to get my scar tissue adhesions released.

    babs6287: Try posting your insurance difficulties in a few other forums on here:

    Pain  

    Insurance & Other Financial Issues

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