Forum Discussion

ccasper's avatar
ccasper
Member
10 years ago

People that have had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction

Hi 

I went for a follow up appointment with my specialist today and everything is shrinking! Yay! I finish chemo in a few months but only have about 6 weeks or so to work out what I want to do.

I am going to opt for a double mastectomy but wanted to know if anyone had had a double mastectomy with immediate implants and then had radiotherapy? Did your implants harden? How did your skin go? Any advice would be great xx
radiotherapy
Reconstruction

4 Replies

  • Ne's avatar
    Ne
    Member
    10 years ago
    ChrissK said:
    Hi ccasper, I had double mastectomy with immediate implants but unfortunately they found another microscopic cell in my left breast and had to have 25 x radio.... so far so good make sure the hospital you go to use mepitel - this protects the skin from severe burns (its like glad wrapping your skin) I was all good except for a little burn marks under my armpit and a little on the breast which was uncomfortable for about 2 weeks but put lots of sorbolene cream on it.  I finished radio on 28/6/16 and so far all ok the only thing is I have a little tenderness under the armpit and this is because I had a lumpectomy and they said I need to message cause the fluid is slow to move because of scar.  Yes there may be complications later on but I really didn't have a chance. I finished AC chemo in February had CT scan showed all clear, had op on 1/4/16 and started rads end of May.
    I agree with Chris on the Mepitel film.  It saved my skin from burning and my plastic surgeon was really pleased with the skin when time came round for the expanders to be changed over.  The radiated side will always be slightly tighter due to scar tissue from radiation but my end results you can't see the difference.  Go with Mepitel Film, it is the best product there is.  Ask your radiology team about it before you start.
  • socoda's avatar
    socoda
    Member
    10 years ago
    Hi ccasper. I had unilateral mastectomy no radiation but I did ask my surgeon if I could still go ahead and have immediate implant if I needed radiotherapy - she said yes no problems. The implant may harden slightly but there was no reason to change plan. She also said that fat grafting would be used later to help fill and plump (taken from stomach woohoo!!!) And just to let you know she is an absolute perfectionist!! So I thought why not!! Xx Cath
  • ChrissK's avatar
    ChrissK
    Member
    10 years ago
    Hi ccasper, I had double mastectomy with immediate implants but unfortunately they found another microscopic cell in my left breast and had to have 25 x radio.... so far so good make sure the hospital you go to use mepitel - this protects the skin from severe burns (its like glad wrapping your skin) I was all good except for a little burn marks under my armpit and a little on the breast which was uncomfortable for about 2 weeks but put lots of sorbolene cream on it.  I finished radio on 28/6/16 and so far all ok the only thing is I have a little tenderness under the armpit and this is because I had a lumpectomy and they said I need to message cause the fluid is slow to move because of scar.  Yes there may be complications later on but I really didn't have a chance. I finished AC chemo in February had CT scan showed all clear, had op on 1/4/16 and started rads end of May.