radiation with an expander in

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kt1127
kt1127 Member Posts: 51
in Breast Cancer #1
Wonderingi f anyone else is or had radiation with the explander in place. I am 17 treatments in I have to get 33 in total and then a 10 day "boost" immediately following. I had a left side mastectomy in November and as the tx is going on I am more and more uncomfortable. I feel like my explander keeps changing size and it is sore and getting hard. My plastic Surg said it will continue to happen as tx goes on (the hardening) I am seeing a chiropractor, not helping. Feeling very alone and frustrated

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  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #2
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    You might ask your surgeon
    You might ask your surgeon about seeing a physical therapist instead of a chiropractor. My situation is different, just completed 44 rounds of rads (no expander). I started seeing a PT who specializes in lymphedema during rads, still seeing her 2x a week, and it's helped me a great deal. I have better range of motion and less swelling, and she hasn't even touched the radiated area yet.

    I hope this helps, and I hope you are feeling a little less alone.

    Big hug,

    Linda
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #3
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    call
    I would talk to your Dr. My plastic surgeon wouldn't even consider starting any reconsturctive procedures until after radiation - he felt there was too much risk of complication.
  • kt1127
    kt1127 Member Posts: 51
    #4
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    skipper54 said:

    call
    I would talk to your Dr. My plastic surgeon wouldn't even consider starting any reconsturctive procedures until after radiation - he felt there was too much risk of complication.

    My expander was put in when
    My expander was put in when I had the mastectomy in Nov I wont have reconstruct for 6 months following my rad. I was wondering what types of side effects others with expanders in was feeling during rads. I thank you for your response and support
  • lmr001
    lmr001 Member Posts: 5
    #5
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    I had radiation with expanders in place
    My surgery was on April 1, 2010 - double mastectomy and expanders put in place.
    Then I did chemo - which ended on Aug 24th. Then radiation (28) which ended Oct 15.
    The radiated side was very tight (the skin is not as flexible after radiation).
    Because of this I spent the next 3 months getting the expanders inflated. I expanded them to a larger size than I was going to end up with - on purpose. It helped me to stretch out that skin. Then when I had the expanders replaced on January 26, 2011... it was no problem at all. I am now a B cup. The non-radiated side is starting to relax and looks quite "normal". The radiated side is still stiffer and the skin and implant do not "hang" like a normal breast would... but it still looks very good and I am happy with it.
    The Doctor said it could take up to a year after surgery for things to settle to where they are going to be. I am delaying nipple reconstruction for 6 months... just to give myself a little break from surgery.

    In any case... my process went very well. I am 47, in good physical condition. Good luck.
  • canoegirl
    canoegirl Member Posts: 169
    #6
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    No real problems
    I had radiation (28) with my expander in and didn't have any real problems. My breast, arm and shoulder were a little tighter after I finished, but I wasn't sure if that was from the rads or the lack of moving it enough. Maybe you should talk to your radiation oncologist about the expander. Before I started treatment, I was at a different hospital and the PS there had told me if I needed rads, he'd take the expander out beforehand. Not sure how that would have worked if the skin was loose and floppy, but for a variety of reasons, I switched to a major cancer center and they said it was no problem to have it in.

    Hope everything works out for you.
    Hugs,
    Marcy

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