Breast Reconstruction

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ThereseDuffy757
ThereseDuffy757 Member Posts: 1
edited February 2017 in Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction -

Have allergic reactions to the implant materials ever been reported? Also, doesn't an implant make cancer detection of the chest wall more difficult to see on the mammogram?

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2017

    Dear ThereseDuffy757,

    Welcome to the community. We are sorry about your diagnosis but glad that you reached out here to our members. It sometimes can take awhile to receive a response. You may want to review other topics in the Breast Reconstruction Forum to see if there are others like yours. You may want to read more information on our main site about Breast Reconstruction. Please let us know how we help you to navigate around the boards. The Mods

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited February 2017

    Those with breast implant reconstruction do not continue to have mammograms on their reconstructed breast(s). Other imaging modalities are used (PET, CT or MRI) for surveillance or monitoring. Here is some info from realself.com on whether or not allergy to silicone breast implants is a problem - short answer seems to be no, and I have not read on this site about people having any issues.

    https://www.realself.com/question/risks-allergic-reaction-breast-implants

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  • MrsMC
    MrsMC Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2017

    Hi I'm new this site, and hopefully will help me as just undergone first mastectomy (18th Jan 2017, second planned in 3 months) and have an inflater implant in. I am having all my treatment in France and struggling with language barrier, as can't seem to ask simple questions! Like why do I still have 1 drain in, initially I had 4 for first few days in hospital. Was in hospital 9 days now am home, with my drain - still. I understand it has to stop draining under 30ml for 24 hours, but why is its still going, am I doing too much? Walking, moving etc. Also i'm not suffering with pain, but feels like an alien is in me!! Feels like it's suctioned on to my chest, is this normal?? I had one node removed and my armpit feels sticky and sensitive, is this normal? I am on antibiotics for 21 days. Is my implant being accepted by my body? If anyway can answer my questions I would appreciate some feed back as like I said have no one to ask these maybe silly questions??

    I'm going for a pump up 21st, what should I expect? Pain?

    Sam

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  • Falconer
    Falconer Member Posts: 1,192
    edited February 2017

    Hi Sam, I had two drains in after my unilateral MX. They stayed in for over two weeks, as I recall. At one point my DH was worried bc the one drain suddenly increased significantly and it wasn't clear why. My BS wasn't worried though and said fluctuations can be normal. Pain and tenderness will be your new normal for weeks if not months. Did you have lymph nodes removed? That often causes tingling and numbness in your arm. I had a TE put in, and it's been 6 months, and all is good there. Like you I took antibiotics for several weeks following surgery. Everything you describe sounds very normal to me, but I am not a doctor, so any increase in pain or any signs of infection should be checked! Finally, about the expander- I think that is what you're asking- I found some tightness when it was inflated but nothing too awful.
    Best to you- I hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions.
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  • MrsMC
    MrsMC Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2017

    Hi Falconer,

    Thank you yes helpful. I had one lymph node removed. Been to see Dr today and if my drain doesn't dry by Monday she wants to change the implant. It its what it is I suppose, one day at a time! And even though she told me I will need no more treatment Radio/chemo. I will take tomoxaphen for 5 years. Need to read up about this.

    Sam

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