reconstruction after rads-any success stories?

Hi spearce59
Did you have a mascetomy or lumpectomy? Give us just a little more info please and I'm sure someone can help you. I had a lumpectomy and one year after rads I had reconstruction/reduction. My surgery was a success. Lots of decisions to be made hope we can help.

Jadie<3

I'm glad you posted this
and I will continue to read the replies... I sure hope there are many more! I reluctantly decided to go for the mastectomy without immediate reconstruction. I could have had it with another surgeon but I wanted to go with a surgeon that was much more qualified as a breast cancer surgeon. He said he would not do the immediate reconstruction as he felt the it would be more detrimental to my recovery. He suggested I wait until after radiation, but like you, I'm very worried about the outcome after waiting so long. However, I have heard of many reconstructions being destroyed from radiation and having to go through it all over again. Perhaps the one good thing is that the reconstructive surgeon I had a consult with initially said I did not have enough tummy tissue to fill both breasts to go bigger. I have gained so much weight since my diagnosis that I should have PLENTY by the time I'm ready, lol.

I sure hope there are some replies by women who have had a success with this!

patti anne said:

same
Sue,
We have the same story. I had a mastectomy on the left side, chemo and then finished radiation July 31. I don't have a prosthetic and being lop-sided drives me crazy! Sometimes I think that sounds so superficial, but I can't help it. I meet with my surgeon in December and hope to meet with the plastic surgeon soon after. I'm pretty sure I want them to remove my right breast as well.

Looks like we're going through the same thing at the same time!
Patti

Hi Patti
Don't worry about thinking you are being superficial because of being lopsided. There are so many of us here that have the same issues. If it bothers you, get it fixed. No worries about looking vain. We all are women who have gone through the slaying of the beast, through chemo, rads, etc. and have looked quite different from our "normal" selves while doing it. Bravely, and with our heads held high. Whatever you, Sue and all the others in this situation decide, we are behind you 100%. Choose to do nothing, ditto (you might want to look at my expressions page, I wrote a little poem about "lopsided girls").
My reconstruction is going well, and yes there are always little glitches along the way, but it will be worth it in the end.
Good luck in all your decisions
Cat

Hi- I was dx in 2002 Stage
Hi- I was dx in 2002 Stage III and had a mastectomy, they wouldn't do immediate reconstruction and I waited 7 years. I had DIEP reconstruction in Jan 2009, I have had 3 surgeries since and couldn't be happier with the outcome. It is truly amazing what they can do. I see my surgeon again in a few weeks and will decide if anything else should be done. It isn't an easy surgery and I did have some problems but I would do it all over again!! Wishing you the best. Karen

GreeneyedGirl said:

Im a Recon girl~
and I will try and be brief! Diagnosed with dcis in 06 lumpectomy (left side) followed by radiation, 1 year later (07) had right side reduced to match (rads shrinks things!).Then one year (08) later had a re~occurrence in the left breast so had a mastectomy (left breast)cosmetic surgeon wanted to do a latissimus flap, I was too scared, so had an expander put in to try and stretch the chest muscle (it wouldn't stretch far, so was unsuccessful) So had the lat flap done Oct 08, and just this past june had a saline implant put in. Lots of space between surgeries to let my body heal. I look amazingly balanced and even. I had no problems or issues after surgery~ healing beautifully. It was a long, slow road, but I was in control~and my surgeon was very patient and gentle with me. Let me know if you have more questions, I will do my best to get back to you.
Melanie

You have to wait
at least 6 months after radiation until your skin recovers and heals.
I had DIEP Flap immediate reconstruction. if you have any question write to me.
Good luck

Work in Progress Reconstruction after Radiation
I am a 5 yr survivor of DCIS; treated with two lumpectomies and 35 radiation treatments; no chemo.
The decision for a second lumpectomy to "spare" my breast was a difficult one. I didn't want to undergo radiation. When I asked if a mastectomy would be better and not require radiation the surgeon said sparing the breast was less traumatic.....he was right....at the time. Five years later with a deformed and painful breast and largely mismatched healthy breast...I sought advice from a plastic surgeon. He recommended a mastectomy to obtain a clean slate to transfer tissue from my back (latissimus flap) to begin building a breast free of radiated tissue that does not reconstruct as readily as unaffected tissue. It really depends on the size of the completed breast needed. I need to match the healthy breast which is a size C....the treated breast had ended up size A. During the mastectomy/lat flap surgery a tissue expander was also placed to enable the breast to expand to accept placement of an implant to match the healthy breast. After some weight gain and gravity effects of being 54....the healthy breast will receive a "lift" during the second surgery in three weeks to exchange the expander for the permanent implant. My advice is to seek out a plastic surgeon recommended by local hospitals that have a Breast Cancer Center...ask to speak to a nurse advocate. They see the reconstruction surgeries first hand and know who is goo. Or call your local Cancer Society. I first consulted with the local plastic surgeon that was a "boob mill"; most of his cases were not reconstruction; but augmentation.....it takes special skill and compassion to put us cancer girls back together again. It is not an easy process; but I can say it has been worth it to restore self esteem.
Also, know that even if your insurance has changed since your treatment; your current insurance company must cover the cost to reconstruct the affected breast and also treat the other side with whatever treatment will attain symmetry. I decided to go ahead with the reconstruction in part that I do not know what my options might be in the future....with the uncertainty of our health care system. Hope this helps!