When does the radiated Breast get back to normal?

Options
Sjacobs146
Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
edited July 2015 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I finished rads on March 17. My skin recovered well (although I have a dark area from the boosts), but my entire Breast is "firmer" than the untreated one, especially the nipple. Will the texture of the radiated Breast ever go back to normal? If so, any clues on how long the process will take? I know I could have worse problems, I'm just curious if things will ever go back to the way they were before

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • tgtg
    tgtg Member Posts: 266
    edited June 2015

    Hi, SJacobs--Be patient! Two and a half years after surgery and two years+ after rads ended, I am now as close to the "way things were before" as I expect to be. At one year after surgery the lx scar was invisible, and at one year after rads my right breast and nipple were still firmer than the untreated one. Now at 2.years after rads, my right nipple and areola are are almost as soft as the left, and the two breasts are almost symmetrical when viewed in a mirror (looking down on the right breast, I can see a very slight indentation where the tumor was, though) .The only visible difference now is the slightly lighter shade of the treated areola, but the difference isn't striking and is really only noticeable to someone who is looking for a difference. After rads I kept moisturizing my treated breast, using plain old Aveeno 24-hr oatmeal-based moisturizer as my RO suggested, and still do . . . although not as faithfully as a year ago! The changes do moderate, and, as you say, in the big picture of "what might have been," they really are minor blipsl. TG

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited June 2015

    tgtg, thank you for your insights. I mainly want to make sure that my recovery is progressing normally. Not sure why I'm worried, I have a doc looking at it on three month intervals.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 4pink101
    4pink101 Member Posts: 45
    edited July 2015

    has anyone ever had radiation over an implant? I had a BMX with immediate reconstruction but due to the 1 positive lymph node they are suggesting radiation ...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited July 2015

    4pink101, that's what I will be doing; exchange tissue expanders for implants before radiation. My PS has done it before. He prefers this and has found it results in fewer complications. Of course if you google, you can find arguments saying the opposite. I consulted with another PS that would have done implants after radiation. He wasn't reassuring at all. He was quite bothered by my set of circumstances. He really questioned my need for radiation; he the plastic surgeon :-/

    My chosen PS tells me hefeels strongly we can achieve results I will be happy with. Injecting fat some time after radiation is an option to address any smoothness, softness, sizing, etc... issues.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 4pink101
    4pink101 Member Posts: 45
    edited July 2015

    hi sugarcakes- thank you so much for your reply! There really is nothing out there supportive of radiation to implants (with a positive aesthetic). When I questioned my PS she said lets just wait and see what happens. Typically she said she does a lift on the opposite breast to correct symmetry... But I'm so happy with they way they look now and.to be honest am just terrified moving forward. I meet with the RO again tomorrow to discuss exactly why it's needed, but I believe it may be due to a few IDC cells in the anterior margin after my BMX.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kbram
    kbram Member Posts: 185
    edited July 2015

    I had radiation to my right breast years after implant surgery. I had a recurrence years after my initial diagnosis. I had absolutely no problems at all! Kept coconut oil on breast every day after treatment and skin looks great!

    Katy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SugarCakes
    SugarCakes Member Posts: 353
    edited July 2015

    I plan on using the aquafor but also coconut oil. Coconut oil is good for so much! I used it during chemo, especially on my hands and feet.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited July 2015

    I had radiation over a silicone implant last year. Many surgeons and some institutions prefer doing the exchange surgery first and radiate when the permanent silicone implant is already in. I was told that in 9 out of 10 such cases, there is some impact to the cosmetics and that my outcome a very typical in terms of the extent of such impact. My radiated breast is a little perkier and a tiny bit smaller than the other one. This is not noticeable when I wear a bras.

    I am glad I had the exchange before radiation. There were no problems with healing and I the entire process was completed much faster than if radiation were done first and the exchange surgery - at a later time.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited July 2015

    I agree with tgtg - took about 2 years, but except for a dent where the scar is, and significant fading of my nipple/areola (my is very noticeable) the size, texture etc. of the treated breast is pretty much how I remember it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 4pink101
    4pink101 Member Posts: 45
    edited July 2015

    hi muska- does the radiated breast continue to change as time goes on? Did you have SE from the radiation? I have close margins 1 mm after a BMX 1 positive node .. ? If radiation is still needed

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories