Implant rejection

chessie

Well, after 7 months of having the permanent implant, not to mention the 11 months of having the tissue expander along with all the fills, etc., I developed an infection seemingly overnight, and had to have the implant removed. (I am 1 year and 8 months from dx - stage 3 - er pos - chemo + rads). They don't know where the infection came from. It has been a month since they took it out, and the incision is still slow to heal. They said radiation was the culprit - it causes poor blood supply. I had 30 rads after expansion. I was just curious if there are any other women who have been through this ordeal - I know it's just a bump in the road compared to what many of you have been through, but, good grief - it was like losing my breast all over again.

24242

I know now that some of us are very sensative to everything they do to us. My raging staph infection didn't come to light until 3 months after having my first mastectomy and weeks after chemo #2. It wasn't till years later with all my problems that they started to discuss this sensativity and it can be genetically checked for now from what I have heard back then studying.
Seems we are all a study.
I think had I gone that route it would of caused me more problems than I already had. So yes there many women who have had problems like yours and if you went back in posts there are some very good stories I can bet.
Be good to yourself,
Tara

hounddog

Hello my name is Marilyn my advise to you is do not get implants because they are not good. I have a Friend that lives in Albuquerque N.M. she has been to Washington D.C. over implants causing trouble if you would like her number I can give it to you . Implants leak and cause other problems. Let me know if you want my Friends number and I'll be glad to give it to you .
marilyn

Future

Chessie,

I started breast reconstruction and had a major infection requiring removal of my expander on one side. I've had two mastectomys -- first one was because Stage IIIA. Other side was prophylactic -- when they started to do work up prior to reconstruction couldn't guarantee other side was cancer free so decided to do mastectomy same time as reconstruction.

Anyways, the side that had radiation is the side that's given me problems. I had a lat flap with expander - about five weeks post op developed major infection on that side -- was rehospitalized for 8 days, expander removed, large dose IV antibiotics for more than 2 weeks,etc. The flap stayed good. They said the same thing to me that they said to you. First mastectomy (right) side was more susceptible because of radiation and that's why the infection showed up there. I understand your comment about losing your breast all over again -- I am very lopsided right now and finding bras to wear is a challenge. Also what's giving me a tough time, is that I had my self prepared for a certain number of months for reconstruction and now at least three more months have been added to it.

Has your surgeon talked about future plans? Mine has said he's going to do a CT Scan with WBC tag in 3 months -- it's a scan where they draw blood - tag it with a radio isotope and then reinsert the blood. My understanding is that if you still have an infection the WBCs will gather in that area. My surgeon won't touch the expander on the opposite side or put in a new expander on the right until that test is negative.

If your sugeon hasn't mentioned it, may want to ask. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

chessie

Future said:

Chessie,

I started breast reconstruction and had a major infection requiring removal of my expander on one side. I've had two mastectomys -- first one was because Stage IIIA. Other side was prophylactic -- when they started to do work up prior to reconstruction couldn't guarantee other side was cancer free so decided to do mastectomy same time as reconstruction.

Anyways, the side that had radiation is the side that's given me problems. I had a lat flap with expander - about five weeks post op developed major infection on that side -- was rehospitalized for 8 days, expander removed, large dose IV antibiotics for more than 2 weeks,etc. The flap stayed good. They said the same thing to me that they said to you. First mastectomy (right) side was more susceptible because of radiation and that's why the infection showed up there. I understand your comment about losing your breast all over again -- I am very lopsided right now and finding bras to wear is a challenge. Also what's giving me a tough time, is that I had my self prepared for a certain number of months for reconstruction and now at least three more months have been added to it.

Has your surgeon talked about future plans? Mine has said he's going to do a CT Scan with WBC tag in 3 months -- it's a scan where they draw blood - tag it with a radio isotope and then reinsert the blood. My understanding is that if you still have an infection the WBCs will gather in that area. My surgeon won't touch the expander on the opposite side or put in a new expander on the right until that test is negative.

If your sugeon hasn't mentioned it, may want to ask. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Thank you all for your replies. Future, I never heard about the radioisotope tagging, but it sounds interesting. I haven't made up my mind whether or not I want to go through implant surgery again. At this point probably not, I'm still not healed, and if I do it will be a long time from now, and by then, I will probably be used to my new profile. I don't know. I just want to do what's best for my health at this point.