Radiation VS Implants

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karabesque
karabesque Member Posts: 84
edited October 2015 in Breast Reconstruction

HI,

I have just been told that I need to have radiation. I have already had a bi-lateral mastectomy and 8 rounds of chemo. My plastic surgeon has told me that because of the elevation of where we live, he has a 50% success rate with implants. My reoccurance rate is 30% and radiation will decrease this rate by 2/3 or to 10%. Also, they want to take out the TEs I already have in and then, only if my skin is okay, in another year we can try the implants. I also have the option of fat grafting.

My problem is I am so done with all of the treatments and cancer itself and am leaning towards refusing the radiation and just getting the implants and live a clean, healthy, preventative lifestyle. My cancer was ER/PR positive and I know that the hormones can be controlled.

Has any one refused radiation and opted for a preventative lifestyle? If so, what are you doing and how is it going for you? I appreciate all feedback, on either side of the fence. I need guidance and some help deciding on this major choice.

Thanks in Advance!

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  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited October 2015

    You might want to consider a second opinion by another PS. I had rads with TE in place. Rads side was slightly over filled to allow for shrinkage. I then waited about six months after rads were over, and then had exchange to implants with fat grafting done at the same time to help repair tissues on that side.

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  • karabesque
    karabesque Member Posts: 84
    edited October 2015

    Thanks BayouBabe! My PS is awesome and I trust him completely. The problem is the RO has said they want to give me a pretty aggressive radiation and they want the TEs out to target the area. Also, where I live we are at a high elevation (7k feet) and there isnt enough oxygen for the skin to repair as well as sea level. So, the PS has seen a very low success rate of implants post radiation. And, yes, my vanity and exhaustion of the cancer treatments may be overriding the decision of radiation. So, I am thinking to take the risk and do alternatives like immunotherapy and a natropathic approach and cross the reoccurance road if I get to it.

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited October 2015

    They can radiate with TEs and implants in. I had exchange surgery before radiation, everything worked out pretty well

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited October 2015

    Sorry you're faced with this decision. I know you want support for your inclination not to have radiation, but I want to offer another perspective. You say you are so done with all the treatments and with cancer itself, which is totally understandable. BUT, if you opt not to have radiation, it seems you will have a much higher chance of recurrence, which would mean more cancer and more treatments. We are all different, but if it were me, I would opt for the radiation in a heartbeat, and hope that your skin would be in good shape after a year and you could then get expanders and implants. In a year, if your skin wasn't good enough for that, you could look into flap surgeries or even fat grafting.

    Best of luck whatever you decide.

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