Question about BSE after Reconstruction

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jamac
jamac Member Posts: 24
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am almost 2 years out from my bc diagnosis and bil mastectomies and close to 1 year out from finishing my reconstruction with saline implants. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what I'm feeling between my skin and my implants. Does scar tissue shift around in there? This feels like my scars but is not close to the external scars. ??? Last year I found a BB sized bump which turned out to be a bulge in the shell of my implant. I'm trying to be vigilant about doing BSE after being scolded for not doing it. Have any of you had the same experience? How do you know when to pay attention and when to wait and watch? I'd really like to hear from anyone with suggestions. Thanks in advance. Julie

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  • DeeNY711
    DeeNY711 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #2
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    Who scolded you for not doing BSE after bilateral mastectomies? I also had bilateral mastectomies. There is no breast tissue left to do BSE on.
  • jamac
    jamac Member Posts: 24
    #3
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    DeeNY711 said:

    Who scolded you for not doing BSE after bilateral mastectomies? I also had bilateral mastectomies. There is no breast tissue left to do BSE on.

    My surgeon has said that the only way to remove 100% of a person's breast tissue is to literally skin them during surgery so statistically they feel they can get more like 98%. He feels that we have the best chance to find any possible recurrence by adding vigilant self exams ( scars, areas where chest wall and implant meet as well as skin over the implants and axilla) to our regular followups and tests. Most of us get to be better judges of what is normal for our bodies as far as what we feel during BSE before bc so I guess the same would be true after we're diagnosed and treated. I'm not at the point yet of feeling confident about what I feel after all the surgeries and I guess that is the basis of my question. At my last exam, he asked if I was doing my self exam ( maybe BSE isn't the correct term) and when I said no, I was STRONGLY encouraged to examine myself regularly. So... I'm still trying to figure out what's normal. :) Julie
  • jfsnowflake
    jfsnowflake Member Posts: 15
    #4
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    Julie: In 1995, at 33 I had a mastectomy with a saline implant. I too asked that question as their was weird feeling things : ) under my skin.
    My surgeon reminded me to become familiar with the breast and be alert to any differences. Well at the base of the implant something I thought was muscle tissue seemed to grow.....in my case it was a recurrence on the chest wall. It was caught as a local recurrence and I have been in great shape for almost 3 years now. Be alert to changes and NEVER think you are asking too many questions or for too many checkups!! In my case all looked fine in May, but was 2cm by September. This isn't ment to scare you, but to applaud your diligent BSE!
    Jane
  • jamac
    jamac Member Posts: 24
    #5
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    jfsnowflake said:

    Julie: In 1995, at 33 I had a mastectomy with a saline implant. I too asked that question as their was weird feeling things : ) under my skin.
    My surgeon reminded me to become familiar with the breast and be alert to any differences. Well at the base of the implant something I thought was muscle tissue seemed to grow.....in my case it was a recurrence on the chest wall. It was caught as a local recurrence and I have been in great shape for almost 3 years now. Be alert to changes and NEVER think you are asking too many questions or for too many checkups!! In my case all looked fine in May, but was 2cm by September. This isn't ment to scare you, but to applaud your diligent BSE!
    Jane

    Thanks for your reply. I am learning to skip the worry and stew stage and take my concerns to my doctors early on, and am much more at peace with things. So glad all has gone well for you. Thanks again. Julie

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