Tissue Expanders for a 1 1/2 years?

poisedandpink
poisedandpink Member Posts: 66
edited July 2021 in Breast Reconstruction

Hi,

I was curious if anyone has had their tissue expanders in for this long? If so, what was reconstruction like afterward?

I had my tissue expanders placed in April 4, 2019. I started radiation in June, followed by six months of Xeloda. I was scheduled to have my exchange surgery the first week of March right when the Covid virus spread started in NYC. Due to this, my exchange surgery was rescheduled and cancelled twice. It has now been indefinitely postponed. I was told it could be late Summer or even Fall before I have my surgery.

I completely understand why. The health and safety of myself and other hospital workers are at risk, but I'm also a little bummed. I had built up this reconstruction surgery as the last phase of my cancer journey before I could start to move on. At the same time, grateful for the place I am in now.

I'm interested to hear of what the scar tissue was like and if it made the surgery more challenging to keep expanders in this long?

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  • LiveLoveLaugh2020
    LiveLoveLaugh2020 Member Posts: 322
    edited March 2020

    Poisedandpink I did not have the same experience so I can't answer any of your questions. But I just wanted to say I'm sorry your surgery has been delayed and you've had those bricks in for so long! (I couldn't even take mine for the 4 months I had them).

    I totally get what you mean by you just want to complete this final phase. I hope your surgery is rescheduled for sooner rather than later! :)

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited March 2020

    Poised - you may want to check out the "exchange" thread. It's been going a long time so you might have a better chance to get answers there. Good luck

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  • poisedandpink
    poisedandpink Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2020

    LiveLoveLaugh2020 - thanks! It's been a long year of not sleeping comfortably with them in.


    MinusTwo - I tried to searching in that thread, but couldn't find anything related. I thought it might be easier to get a response here since it's so specific of a question, but I'll try there. Thanks!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited March 2020

    poised - I had BMX with tissue expanders placed in Nov of 2010. I was set to start chemo after a period of healing but my SNB, declared clear in surgery, was found to have Her2+ micromets, so I had ALND five weeks later. Two weeks after that surgery my non-cancer side expander ruptured through a necrotic area on the front of the breast. I had two surgical tries to keep the skin closed, but ultimately had yet another surgery to remove it so that I could move on to chemo and Herceptin. This series of events ate up 14 weeks. My left expander was out for seven months during chemo before being replaced in July 2011. After a period of healing I started to fill very slowly, only filling 25ccs weekly until the left expander caught up to the surgical fill of the right one. I then continued with very small fills, and had a period of wait until exchange, which happened in Feb of 2012 - so 15 months from BMX, with the right expander having stayed in place that whole time. At no time did my PS indicate there was any issue, or possibility of scar tissue complications, from leaving the expanders in place for a prolonged period. My exchange experience was pretty normal and both implants were soft and moveable in the pocket. Hope this helps - I know it is hard to be a patient patient, and be dealing with treatment and surgery in this uncertain time. Wishing the best for you!

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  • SoulShine1969
    SoulShine1969 Member Posts: 3,047
    edited March 2020

    Poised - I had my tissue expanders in for 14 months before my exchange surgery. Having them in so long was my personal choice, nothing to do with set backs or medical problems of any sort. I kept them in so long because my sweet sister was in her final days with us due to her battle with breast cancer. I didn’t want to finish my reconstruction during that time.
    The exchange surgery was a breeze for me. I don’t think having the expanders in for so long made the surgery or recovery any worse or better. The surgeon used the original excision scar line underneath each breast to exchange expanders for implants. I have since that time had another exchange to new implants and the surgery and recovery was also similar to original exchange surgery.

    I’m sorry that your surgery has been postponed. That’s got to be very disappointing. You probably just want to put a period to the end of your cancer chapter, I get it. You have a very good attitude about it, and I believe a positive attitude is essential when going through cancer.

    I hope this was helpful. If you have any other questions I’d be happy to help.

    Best of luck to you,

    Reb

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  • poisedandpink
    poisedandpink Member Posts: 66
    edited March 2020

    Thank you for the responses! I'm worried about scar tissue because I'm currently experiencing a random burning pain under my tissue expander (they are over the muscle) on my side that was radiated. I do not think it's anything serious as it's only started now that I'm consistently working out more being that I'm working from home right now. The muscle is in general tight and a little sore still from radiation so I feel there has to be a good amount.

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  • CENOK2017
    CENOK2017 Member Posts: 80
    edited April 2020

    Poised,

    I don’t have same story as you butI’m sorry about your delay and can certainly understand. I was supposed to exchange my tissue expander for implant on Feb 18. On Feb 17 an ultrasound found a blood clot in my leg. PS of course would not do exchange. Now, besides being on Eliquis for blood clot, my surgery has been delayed for at least 6 months, Even then who knows when we can have exchange due to co-vid19. Then after exchange, I have to wait another 10 weeks for breast reduction on other side. Seems it goes on and on doesn’t it. Good luck to both of us. Keep me posted!

    I

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  • Botgirl
    Botgirl Member Posts: 5
    edited April 2020

    I had my surgery on February 28, 2020 and had only one minor refill of about 50 cc for my expander before everything closed down. Contacted the nurse via email about cording and side/chest swelling and am now wearing a tight mastectomy bra which seems to help these issues. I’m concerned about how tight my expander is and wonder if using lotions and/or self massage can help. Please let me know about any suggestions.




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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2020

    botgirl - I used Palmer's Cocoa Butter, the really thick kind in the little tub. I am petite and had two babies a year apart and used it on my abdomen - no stretch marks, so I thought it might work after the BMX with expander placement. I found it to be soothing and helped the skin over the expander feel soft and pliable. For the swelling you may have success by wearing an UnderArmour type compression shirt - covers more area than a bra. They make a tank or a short sleeved shirt, but it needs to be tight. Going forward you may also want to talk to your surgeon about whether your swelling is due to a seroma (fluid collection resulting from the surgery) and possibly get a referral for evaluation by a certified physical therapist for breast/truncal lymphedema. In the short term the compression garment can help.

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  • Sherry2019
    Sherry2019 Member Posts: 13
    edited July 2021

    yes I m too going to be 1 year few months my tissue expander soon, I'm feeling super uncomfortable right now 😅

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