Tissue/skin shrinkage from radiation?

andi44
andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

Ready for the breast reconstruction - So, I met with my plastic surgeon yesterday - apparantly the radiation therapy shrunk tissue/skin around the tissue expander - causing it to move...This means I have to have an extra surgery (before my final implant)  to move the expander back into place...Has anyone ever heard of such a thing...With my internet searching, I haven't found any information to justify what my plastic surgeon is referring too...Has anyone heard of this?

Comments

  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #2
    I had lumpectomy so no

    I had lumpectomy so no reconstruction -so no advice BUT I am sure you'll get some from others..

    Just wanted to say thinking of you 

     

    Denise

  • hope67
    hope67 Member Posts: 181
    #3
    Andi, I knew that expander can move

    But I didn't know it can move because of radiation. For the first month of having expander I had to wear an elastic belt to prevent expander to move too high. It was annoying and even painful but it worked. After one month my plastic surgeon told me that there is no danger for it to move because it's attached to the tissue.

    I know that extra surgery isn't what you wanted. Hugs.

    Be well and keep us posted, Carmen

  • andi44
    andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
    #4
    hope67 said:

    Andi, I knew that expander can move

    But I didn't know it can move because of radiation. For the first month of having expander I had to wear an elastic belt to prevent expander to move too high. It was annoying and even painful but it worked. After one month my plastic surgeon told me that there is no danger for it to move because it's attached to the tissue.

    I know that extra surgery isn't what you wanted. Hugs.

    Be well and keep us posted, Carmen

    hope67

    Carmen,

    Thank you - my surgeon didn't talk to me about wearing an elastic belt - think that may have helped...I started radiation a month after my 2nd surgery - so I don't think it had time to really heal inside...that might have contributed to it moving - who knows...

    Hope you are doing well,  :)

    Andi

  • grannabeth
    grannabeth Member Posts: 95
    #5
    Oh, no!

    Oh, Andi I am so sorry to hear that this I has happened. I know it must be disappointing to face an extra surgery. Not fun. You are strong and will get through this set back. Remember we are pulling for you. Beth

  • andi44
    andi44 Member Posts: 196 Member
    #6
    grannabeth said:

    Oh, no!

    Oh, Andi I am so sorry to hear that this I has happened. I know it must be disappointing to face an extra surgery. Not fun. You are strong and will get through this set back. Remember we are pulling for you. Beth

    grannabeth-

    Thank you Ms. Beth,

    Yes, I'm not looking forward to another surgery...thought I'd be done with all this by year end...oh well-we have to deal with what we are dealt...

    Hope you're doing o.k....   :)

    Andi

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