skin problems after reconstruction

Deb3579
Deb3579 Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Like many others on this board, I had DCIS in my right breast. I had a lumpectomy in April, but three of the margins were positive, so I had a second lumpectomy in early May. This time ALL the margins were positive, and some showed a lot of DCIS. So I had a skin saving mastectomy and reconstruction on June 23rd. They also biopsied the lymph nodes, and they were clean. But after the reconstruction, about 40% of my skin on the reconstructed breast turned black and died. So I had to have what is called a debridement on July 24th to remove all the dead tissue. Neither my breast surgeon nor my plastic surgeon who did the reconstruction has ever seen this complication before (altho they have heard of it in medical literature). The plan now is to wait another 4 weeks or so, to see if my body grows new skin, and if not, I will have to get skin grafts.

My question is: Has anyone reading this experienced anything similar after a mastectomy? If so, did new skin grow, or did you have to get skin grafts? Do you have any suggestions for things that helped or didn't help with recovery? For example, a nurse suggested I get extra protein, and another friend suggested making sure I get plenty of iron in my diet.

Thanks for any feedback.

Comments

  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #2
    I am so sorry Deb. I have
    I am so sorry Deb. I have heard of the skin dying before and turning black, so, that does happen to many.

    However, I had a small lumpectomy, so, I can't really answer your questions directly.

    Did your plastic surgeon have any other ideas to help you?

    good luck
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #3
    I've heard of those
    I've heard of those complications, when I had my reconstruction my surgeon told me that was one of the risks. I had a tram flap reconstruction, so they took the skin, fat and muscle from the belly area to reconstruct my breast. I hope it all heals well. Good luck. Love, Lili
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #4
    mmontero38 said:

    I've heard of those
    I've heard of those complications, when I had my reconstruction my surgeon told me that was one of the risks. I had a tram flap reconstruction, so they took the skin, fat and muscle from the belly area to reconstruct my breast. I hope it all heals well. Good luck. Love, Lili

    Deb
    I certainly wish you the best and I hope you heal up. Please keep us posted on your progress.

    Hugs, ♥Lex
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #5
    Alexis F said:

    Deb
    I certainly wish you the best and I hope you heal up. Please keep us posted on your progress.

    Hugs, ♥Lex

    I have heard and read of
    I have heard and read of those complications too. I hope you will be alright.

    ♠♥ Noel ♥♠
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #6
    I had a lumpectomy, so, I
    I had a lumpectomy, so, I don't know. But, I wanted to welcome you to the site and to wish you good luck. Let us know how you do.

    Hugs, Diane ♥
  • aurora2009
    aurora2009 Member Posts: 544 Member
    #7
    Hi Deb
    I don't have any experience in this area, but i have read that this can happen.

    I jusyt wanted to welcome you to the boards, we are all here to support you on this journey, please come back and posted often.

    God Bless

    Aurora
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #8
    aurora2009 said:

    Hi Deb
    I don't have any experience in this area, but i have read that this can happen.

    I jusyt wanted to welcome you to the boards, we are all here to support you on this journey, please come back and posted often.

    God Bless

    Aurora

    Hey Deb. Just want to
    Hey Deb. Just want to welcome you. Sorry I can't give you any information on your question.

    Post again and update us.

    Leeza
  • Deb3579
    Deb3579 Member Posts: 2
    #9
    Thanks to everyone
    Thank you to everyone who has responded and welcomed me. You have all been wonderful and supportive. It's been a discouraging journey for me, because so many things have gone wrong. First losing a breast, then losing my skin! It looks awful right now, and I have trouble believing it will heal on its own. But I dread the thought of having to have skin grafts even more, so I have chosen to wait and see if there's improvement. Time will tell.
  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #10
    DianeBC said:

    I had a lumpectomy, so, I
    I had a lumpectomy, so, I don't know. But, I wanted to welcome you to the site and to wish you good luck. Let us know how you do.

    Hugs, Diane ♥

    Deb, I am so sorry about
    Deb, I am so sorry about what has happened to you.

    I have heard of it too, but, I have no first hand knowledge or experience with it.

    I hope that your plastic surgeon can help you out.

    Please post and let us know how you are doing.

    Sending you lots of strength and encouragement.


    ♥ Hugs, Kristin ♥
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #11
    Deb3579 said:

    Thanks to everyone
    Thank you to everyone who has responded and welcomed me. You have all been wonderful and supportive. It's been a discouraging journey for me, because so many things have gone wrong. First losing a breast, then losing my skin! It looks awful right now, and I have trouble believing it will heal on its own. But I dread the thought of having to have skin grafts even more, so I have chosen to wait and see if there's improvement. Time will tell.

    I pray that it will improve
    I pray that it will improve for you Deb! Please keep posting and keep us updated on you!

    ♠♣Susie♠♣
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #12
    Deb3579 said:

    Thanks to everyone
    Thank you to everyone who has responded and welcomed me. You have all been wonderful and supportive. It's been a discouraging journey for me, because so many things have gone wrong. First losing a breast, then losing my skin! It looks awful right now, and I have trouble believing it will heal on its own. But I dread the thought of having to have skin grafts even more, so I have chosen to wait and see if there's improvement. Time will tell.

    Hi Deb. Glad that you found
    Hi Deb. Glad that you found support here, that is why we are here, to support each other. So sorry that you are discouraged. I hope it improves.
  • lmmo
    lmmo Member Posts: 56
    #13
    same as you
    My heart goes out to you! I have a post on here similar to yours. My skin died and reconstruction had to be removed. My skin is so tight. I attend physical therapy. I did not have to have skin grafts, but I can not have expanders again. I have to have abdominal reconstruction next year. I am here for you! I can tell you more if you want and so can others. It is a rare complication but you are not alone.
    Lisa
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #14
    Welcome, Deb3579
    So sorry for your complications, which seem to be possible - yet, somewhat rare. I'll be hoping all goes well for you from here on out. Wishing you good healing.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #15
    Deb3579 said:

    Thanks to everyone
    Thank you to everyone who has responded and welcomed me. You have all been wonderful and supportive. It's been a discouraging journey for me, because so many things have gone wrong. First losing a breast, then losing my skin! It looks awful right now, and I have trouble believing it will heal on its own. But I dread the thought of having to have skin grafts even more, so I have chosen to wait and see if there's improvement. Time will tell.

    I hope that your skin heals
    I hope that your skin heals very quickly. I am so sorry for what you are going thru. It is so much for one person to handle. I hope that I and this board can help you.
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #16
    Christmas Girl said:

    Welcome, Deb3579
    So sorry for your complications, which seem to be possible - yet, somewhat rare. I'll be hoping all goes well for you from here on out. Wishing you good healing.

    Adding my welcome
    Deb, I am so sorry to hear all that you have had to go through. I hope your healing is uneventful from here on out. ♥ Pammy
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #17
    lmmo said:

    same as you
    My heart goes out to you! I have a post on here similar to yours. My skin died and reconstruction had to be removed. My skin is so tight. I attend physical therapy. I did not have to have skin grafts, but I can not have expanders again. I have to have abdominal reconstruction next year. I am here for you! I can tell you more if you want and so can others. It is a rare complication but you are not alone.
    Lisa

    I hope that physical therapy
    I hope that physical therapy helps you Lisa.
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #18
    lmmo said:

    same as you
    My heart goes out to you! I have a post on here similar to yours. My skin died and reconstruction had to be removed. My skin is so tight. I attend physical therapy. I did not have to have skin grafts, but I can not have expanders again. I have to have abdominal reconstruction next year. I am here for you! I can tell you more if you want and so can others. It is a rare complication but you are not alone.
    Lisa

    Wishing you good luck to
    Wishing you good luck to Immo! Sorry to hear about what happened to you.
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #19
    lmmo said:

    same as you
    My heart goes out to you! I have a post on here similar to yours. My skin died and reconstruction had to be removed. My skin is so tight. I attend physical therapy. I did not have to have skin grafts, but I can not have expanders again. I have to have abdominal reconstruction next year. I am here for you! I can tell you more if you want and so can others. It is a rare complication but you are not alone.
    Lisa

    Wishing you good luck too
    Wishing you good luck too Immo! Sorry to hear about what happened to you.

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