radiation and reconstruction

confused123
confused123 Member Posts: 251
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am new to site and looking for info. I had double mastectomy in January and tissue expanders were put in at the same time. I did 4 a/c chemo treatments and am currently doing taxol and herceptin. I have one more taxol treatment and then start radiation. My expanders were fully fulled but the ps deflated the right side because it needs radiation. My radiation oncologist wants it inflated. Both say their way is better for the skin. Not sure who to listen to. I am wondering if anyone has done the radiation with expanders? Did the expanders have metal or plastic in them? Also if anyone did it and then had the implants put in after radiation how does it look. My ps does not seem to positive about the final outcome because of the effects the radiation has on the tissue.
Thanks

Comments

  • Jeanne D
    Jeanne D Member Posts: 1,867
    #2
    Sorry you are confused :(
    Hi Confused! I am sorry that you are here because of bc but I would like to welcome you. I

    am sorry that I can't answer your questions, as, I had a small tumor and had a lumpectomy,

    followed with 37 rad treatments. This site has a wealth of information on it and wonderful

    survivors that I am sure will reply to you with some help.
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    #3
    here's my 2 cents worth
    I had bilateral mastectomy and had expanders put in at the same time. I had chemo before, then radiation after surger, then more chemo, now I am planning reconstruction with my own tissue (DIEP procedure) next month. My expanders were inflated to the max before radiation, and were left that way. Radiation can cause the skin to tighten in many people. This makes the breast feel hard. It can take 6-10 months for the skin to heal inside and out. I would guess that the Dr. who is suggesting that the expander should be deflated is thinking of the tightening of the skin. My plastic surgeon warned that it might shrink the breast up to a breast size. In my case it did not. Most of the people I have read about on this site have not mentioned having expanders deflated before radiation. The main problems are with the burning effect (like a severe sunburn) of the radiation on the skin, not shrinking. My guess would be that it would be OK if it is not deflated, but definitely ask the Drs. why they are making their recommendations. Maybe get a third opinion and do whatever the majority opinion says to do?? Maybe you will get more/better responses from others on this site.

    Summary: Write down your questions, ask both Drs. why they say what they say, Make your decision. you are the one to decide because you are the one to live with the results.

    Best wishes, seof
  • confused123
    confused123 Member Posts: 251
    #4
    seof said:

    here's my 2 cents worth
    I had bilateral mastectomy and had expanders put in at the same time. I had chemo before, then radiation after surger, then more chemo, now I am planning reconstruction with my own tissue (DIEP procedure) next month. My expanders were inflated to the max before radiation, and were left that way. Radiation can cause the skin to tighten in many people. This makes the breast feel hard. It can take 6-10 months for the skin to heal inside and out. I would guess that the Dr. who is suggesting that the expander should be deflated is thinking of the tightening of the skin. My plastic surgeon warned that it might shrink the breast up to a breast size. In my case it did not. Most of the people I have read about on this site have not mentioned having expanders deflated before radiation. The main problems are with the burning effect (like a severe sunburn) of the radiation on the skin, not shrinking. My guess would be that it would be OK if it is not deflated, but definitely ask the Drs. why they are making their recommendations. Maybe get a third opinion and do whatever the majority opinion says to do?? Maybe you will get more/better responses from others on this site.

    Summary: Write down your questions, ask both Drs. why they say what they say, Make your decision. you are the one to decide because you are the one to live with the results.

    Best wishes, seof

    Thank you for responding. I
    Thank you for responding. I have not had luck finding someone who has done this but I know there are many who have. I did speak to two different rad onc. mine says inflate and the other didn't care either way and the ps wants it deflated so I guess I have 3 opinions already. I wonder if it makes a difference if I am having implants put in or using my own tissue. I am getting the implants. Do you know if diet and exercise would have an effect on the tissue healing differently? I will ask my docs but wondering if you had heard anything. Did you have to wait 10 months after radiation for surgery? I was told 2-4 months depending if they were inflated or not at time of radiation.

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