The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

? about expansion and recovery from surgery

christald21
christald21 CSN Member Posts: 55
in Breast Cancer #1

HI Ladies,

     I just came back from my reconstruction surgeon.  He wanted to do my first expansion today, but no go Frown.  It has been 19 days since my double masectomy.  I got my drains out last week.   My left side healed very good, and where the drain was it scabbed over real fast.  My right side has issues, and i am still having fluid coming out of the hole where the drain is.  Just a little bit, but still seems to be having a hard time healing into a scab.  Has anyone had this issue?  And the cancer was on my right side. I am thinking that might have something to do with it.  Although the rest of my sutures look great, and healing just fine.  I hade lymph node taken out too.

And i am set up appt. for next Monday, hoping we can do my first expansion. Keeping my fingers crossed that this little boo boo i have will heal and scab up.  Can anyone tell me what its like to get expansion done.  Is it a painful process? 

Thanks in advance for all your support and comments!   and Merry Christmas!

Like Care

Comments

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 CSN Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #2
    Sorry, I have no expericnce

    Sorry, I have no expericnce or advice -just sending hugs

     

    Denise

    Like Care
  • camul
    camul CSN Member Posts: 2,537
    #3
    it is a little sore

    You are stretching skin that has never been stretched so it was more of a tight soreness that would last for about a day and a half.  Then when you get used to it, you will get another expansion.  It depends on big you are going.  I had a single mast. So the mast. side was a little tighter than the left side. I went from an almost a to a small c,  and he went a little bigger with the stretching so when they did the exchange it was more comfortable.  

    I was just told to gently massage and that would help.  Your plastic surgeon will have some good tips, at least mine did.

    Like Care
  • Clementine_P
    Clementine_P CSN Member Posts: 518 Member
    #4
    Easy procedure

    Hi Christaldi,

    I had a double mastectomy and one of my drains had some issues so I too was delayed having it out.  As a result, I ended up not having my first expansion for about 7 weeks after surgery.  I was anxious  - really wanted to get the expansion done right away so I was disappointed with the delay.  In the end, it was just a small disappointment.  As to the pain factor during an expansion, I found there to be no pain at all.  You feel a tightness that Carol described but for me no pain.  It sort of felt like I was wearing a sports bra when I wasn't.  By the next morning that feeling had gone away too.  If you go on youtube here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ8-f7F9BdI you can see a woman that had her expansions taped so you can see the process.  The entire process takes about 5 minutes total (for both breasts).  I worried about it too until I went through an expansion, but you will see when you get one that it is not something for you to worry about at all.  It is easy.

    Best,

    Clementine

    Like Care

Discussion Boards