Shrinkage - Please Respond

Hi Percy.  I am sorry that you are experiencing shrinkage.   I am a couple months post Rads and worry about it too.   One thing I wanted to mention is that you could have surgery on the other Breast so they match. It would most likely be covered by insurance.   I had a Breast reduction after my 2nd lumpectomy to get clear margins because the plastic surgeon told me I would have a smaller and different Breast after a 2nd surgery and rads.   Just know that this is an option if you cannot live with the difference in the breasts.   

All of this is hard and I'm sorry. 

Hi percy,  I've noticed that my scar is getting longer in proportion to my breast and it's a month out.  So it's shrinking a bit already maybe.  It's also got red blotches that still won't go away since rads and there's a real dark tan near the scar line so that makes it look more indented. (poor thing looks pretty mangled)   But at this point it looks like I had a boob lift, except for it's a bit flatter on one side of it where the lump was removed.  If I put my arm up you can tell it's quite a bit smaller.   For me it's subjective though...I can't tell if it was this size after healing up from surgery, or if it got smaller after rads.

If you have insurance, some insurance companies will pay for reconstruction  if, after all is said and done, your breast isn't cosmetically acceptable to you.  That could be an option for you.

Oh yuck. I am so sorry that you are going through this. I am now kind of nervous. I start rads today, doing the 4 week "compressed" schedule. The ro did say that the compressed schedule has more cosmetic issues than the traditional 6 week. So far, post-lump. my boob just has a little dent below my incision but here is a lot of scar tissue underneath.  I am practically in training bras as it is, so if this boob shrinks, I'll be concave!

Just know that if the man you think is Mr Right thinks *any* less of you, he does not deserve you.

I was happy to find scar tissue developed and replaced most of the volume I'd lost from two lumpectomies in my B-C cup breast. .  I did see a lymphedema therapist, who "mobilized" the scar tissue so it did not stick (not her word) and distort my breast.  I guess I saw her once or twice early on after my skin was healed, and again a couple of months later. I highly recommend you (and anyone [all of us] concerned about post-surgical appearance), try this.

Percy - My treated breast ended up about 1 1/2 cup sizes smaller than the other breast. The difference did not become apparent until after radiation. After I finished rads, I went to a mastectomy fitter who ordered a compensation form for me. I wore that form in my bra for a year while I waited to have corrective surgery for symmetry correction. My insurance covered the symmetry procedures. Unfortunately, the treated breast will continue to change for a while. 

Just thought I'd add that the place where you are now was a very emotional time for me. I was depressed and angry over the fact that I'd lost so much tissue from my breast (I'm petite, about your height), angry about the shrinkage from radiation, and all of this for a non-invasive cancer. None of my doctors warned me this could happen. None of my doctors told me there were partial prostheses or compensation forms available to balance the breasts. I was fortunate to have a friend who went through the same thing several years before and she told me about the local prosthesis fitter. I thank God for her, because I was so self-conscious about my uneven breasts. She is still happy wearing a partial prosthesis every day, but I just hated it. Having surgery to correct the asymmetry was so worth it.

percy, I am wondering the same thing-- there is no way I could have a reduction on my left side, but after rads, what sort of options do we have for the lump. side? My BS said that after I am all healed up (she said about 1 year later)I can speak to a PS and a fat graft would be a possible option. I might just need to invest in a padded bra that has a removable pad for my left side.

And gah,don't you hate when drs have no clue???

Percy4, I totally understand!  One of my worries as well.  I have a list of worries.  I'm a BC.  My surgery was 3 weeks ago and looks pretty good.  Happy with the scar and can't really see a size difference.  CT scan tomorrow, so rads will begin soon after.  I too am wondering what I'll have in the end.  I seriously considered a total mastectomy with one of the reasons being that I would have more control of the cosmetic outcome in the end.  I didn't think of myself as vein, but now I realize I must be or this would not be bugging me so much.  The PS I saw before making my lumpectomy vs mastectomy decision said the radiation keeps giving for years to come and the plastic surgery options do diminish.  He did say he could take some fat from my back.  I didn't even realize I had fat on my back.  Geeze!