Radiated implant massage or how can I soften this thing

Options
Firni
Firni Member Posts: 1,519
edited September 2016 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I had BMX 8 years ago with immediate implant reconstruction. In 2014 I had a recurrence in a lymph node. I had chemo again and an axilary dissection. Three months later I had a recurrance in the same spot. (Think they missed somthing?). I had more chemo, herceptin and finally, radiation. I finished rads the first week of Nov in 2015. In April, the implant started to harden and lift. It is also painful. I saw a PS yesterday to see what can be done. He talked a lot about skin failure and infection. At the end of it, he said I can have a Lat flap done. That was it. His recommendation was to do nothing, hike up my bra on the other side and deal with the pain as long as I can function.

I have been reading some things on the boards about fat transfers and massage. I also know there have been many women here who finished their implant recon after they've had rads.

Thank you Deborah for the links to the fat graft sites. I haven't gone to them yet, but I will.

Has anyone been able to soften the radiated capsule and ease the pain with massage?

Has anyone done a new implant after rads?

I'm having a hard time accepting that I have to "hike up my bra" on the unaffected side and live with the pain. Please tell me it isn't so

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited July 2016
    Hi Mimi, I had rads with permanent implant in and completed rads on May 1st, 2014. I have been using gentle massage only on the radiated side since then and the results have been pretty good so far. I do 10-12 movements that my PS showed me - after getting from the shower and putting good natural lotion on the breast. The point is to make it move slightly in the pocket.
    That being said every case is unique. You can try and see how you feel but don't expect immediate results. My PS told me to continue doing this indefinitely when I saw her over a year ago. But she was very pleased with the result. Most importantly, I don't have any pain and feel no difference between the radiated and non-radiated side.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Firni
    Firni Member Posts: 1,519
    edited July 2016

    thanks Muska. I've been massaging but it feels more like a TE than an implant. I had 25 rad tx and 5 boosts to the whole breast, axilary and clavicle. I finished Nov, 10, 2015. My RO told me to stretch to keep scar tissue from forming but he never said anything about massage. I did and still do the stretching. My range of motion is good and the implant was fine until April. Then it seemed like in a matter of days it got all hard. There is no movement at all in the pocket. I may have waited way too long. I will keep trying to loosen things. It seems like any kind of revision wouldn't be done until a year after rads is completed. I have some time before I talk to more PS.

    If anyone has had a TE and implant revision after rads, please let me know how you did

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 7of9
    7of9 Member Posts: 833
    edited August 2016

    Bump. I am waiting to hear about Firni's inquiry also...do I have to really wait a year to get this rock on the left fixed???

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SSInUK
    SSInUK Member Posts: 245
    edited September 2016

    old thread - but I had this problem after rads and 6 months after the end of treatment they took implant out and gave me Diep flap. I can't tell you how much better it made everything - pain softness comfort shape size. I would personally recommend though we're all different

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories