Implant Reconstruction with Radiation Treatment

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GMD57
GMD57 Member Posts: 3
edited September 2020 in Breast Reconstruction

I have a treatment plan that involves chemotherapy, then mastectomy, then radiation treatment, then a year of targeted therapy with Herceptin and Perjetta. At this point, I have completed 2 cycles of the chemo and have 4 more cycles to go before I have my surgery. I would like to have the implant type of breast reconstruction. I read an article on this Breastcancer.org website that states, implant reconstruction is "generally, not a good option if skin has undergone radiation". Is there anyone out there who has had implant reconstruction and also had radiation treatment? If so, I would love to hear from you. How did your implant reconstruction turn out? Was it satisfactory? What problems did you have with it, if any? Do you have any regrets? Would you recommend it to me? Thank you in advance for your help.

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  • InfusionConfusion
    InfusionConfusion Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2020

    bump...I’m also interested in this as I just had an implant on my radiated side and getting quite a bit of pain

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

    There are LOTS of threads that discuss this. I've put the link for the Exchange Thread, where Infusion has already posted. The 1300 pages may be daunting, but lots of good info.

    If your expanders are in place & at least partially full after surgery & before radiation, they will be holding the place so the skin/muscles won't retract as much. Also search for fat grafting. I have read evidence that fat grafting after radiation really helps recovery.

    I had BMX with TEs and then exchange surgery 7 months later. When I had a recurrence 2 years after that, my BS was able to do a node dissection without touching the capsule with the implants. Yes the radiated side is higher & tighter, but not horribly different. My PS said he could fix it, but I don't want another surgery.

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

    I searched radiation & reconstruction and found several posts.

    This one seems close to your questions

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91/topics...


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  • InfusionConfusion
    InfusionConfusion Member Posts: 8
    edited September 2020

    Thank you!! I tried a few searches but some of the long threads are hard to get through. Really appreciate your help. After all the torture of TE's I'm hoping I can keep the implant and it looks ok.

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

    Yes, they are long. When I was scared and couldn't sleep, I would read through them one by one. This site is so much safer than "dr google" that I felt in good hands.

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