Radiation needed.Is it safe to have radiation with implant in?

Hi Rosa,

I had radiation after recurrence last year with an existing silicone implant. It didn't leak to my knowledge but I am going in for replacement in 2 weeks. It got hard and tightened, moved up. Surgery, Radiation (before chemo) and chemo was Tax x 4 last spring Feb thru mid June.

Thank the Lord I did "perky" implants on both sides BLM and the other one, soft and fell a little (in place, it looks great) but not too much. My radiated side is really hard and climbed higher and higher especially post rads I'd say most notably month 6 - 15. Achy and some shooting pains and itchy as all hell. I would not be doing the surgery (my body clearly doesn't know when to stop making cells after 2 rounds of BC and I'm considered stage 3c now) but it's now like 2 - 3 inches higher than my other implant to where I notice it and other people (if looking) can notice when wearing a fitted (not even snug) shirt or lower cut blouse and bathing suit.

My plastics guy said 50/50 chance he can match the other side. 30% it will look better but not match (fine with me) and 15 - 20% it's going to be f'd up in a year or too with scar tissue forming again. I don't want to consider back flap surgery. My back is fine - it says leave me out of this! He said we can try that in a few years if this doesn't work. This should be a weeks recovery and returning to work. I feel like the last 5 1/2 yrs (since original diagnosis, cancer second time, dad died suddenly, job change) is really showing on my face. SO I'm getting a lower face/chin lift at the same time. Hell, if you're gonna be a bear be a grizzley! I hate my jowls that have formed. I'm going to be 46 the end of September and my husband is 5 yrs younger. Though his hair is getting pretty darn thin, he's still a very nice looking man and I want to feel as good about my chest and I can (I actually liked my implants after the first BC - not glad why I had them but they looked great in a suit/dress)

Best of luck to you and the radiation wasn't bad to go through at the time. I hope you don't have to do it and get good test results. If not, you'll get through it ok. Feel free to PM me if you want.