radiotherapy and previous reconstruction with implants

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sarafg
sarafg Member Posts: 2
edited November 2019 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi everyone!

Last year I had invasive carcinoma on my breast (3 tumours) stage IIa and the doctors decided to perform a skin and nipple sparing total mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with implants. The treatment after was only hormonaltg.

After a year it turns out that I have a local recurrence on the same breast (the reconstructed one).

They now plan to remove just the tumour and do radiotherapy on my already reconstructed breast. I wonder if someone else has been on the same situation as I am really worried rads will affect my previous reconstruction with implant.

If someone can help, thank you.

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  • Dani444
    Dani444 Member Posts: 522
    edited November 2019

    I am so sorry you have had a recurrence. I had a UMX with direct to implant. Turns out my nodes were positive so I ended up getting rads. My BS followed me very closely and my implant has survived so far. It definitely sits higher than it did before rads and my skin is tighter. I have a pre pec silicone gel implant With alloderm. My BS advised me on what lotions she wanted me to use, in addition to what the RO wanted. I hope you have few side effects as you go through radiation. All the best to you.

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  • mocame
    mocame Member Posts: 669
    edited November 2019

    I had BMX with implants 11 years ago. Was dx with a recurrence in August and just finished 6 weeks of radiation. So far my skin looks okay. It does sit slightly higher than it used to and I think I have a little swelling and it's a little firmer but I just finished rads less than 2 weeks ago. During my MRI at 2nd dx, they found my one implant had a contained rupture. My PS told me that they won't even talk to me about surgery to replace the implant for at least 6 months after rads are finished. They did tell me that I will have a higher chance that the radiated skin will have a harder time healing after the surgery.

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  • LaCombattante
    LaCombattante Member Posts: 226
    edited November 2019

    Sorry you have a recurrence!

    I had a uni with immediate reconstruction to implant in 2011 and i just finished active treatment for auxiliary recurrence, including 25 rads

    My BS advised me not to draw any conclusions about state of my reconstructed breast / implant for the first six months. Should I need a revision, we will explore my options then. In the meantime he urged me to continue to be as physically active as possible and to stretch daily. Swimming (once the skin heals post rads) and yoga were particularly recommended by all doctors / PTs I talked to. And of course, moisturizing moisturizing moisturizing.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2019

    sara - I had a recurrence 2 years after reconstruction. The BS was able to do ALND surgery w/o breaching the implant capsule and I did go through 25 rounds of radiation to that side. The only difference to the implant is that it rides higher & tighter due to the results of radiation damage to nerves & muscles.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2019

    OOps - I had already answered on the other site you started. Best to just pick one site & stick with it.

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