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mk24's avatar
mk24
Member
23 days ago

Radiotherapy after skin-sparing mastectomy & diep-flap-reconstruction?

Has anyone had radiotherapy done after their skin-sparing mastectomy & diep-flap reconstruction? Did it cause any issues with the breast flap? like hardening or shrinking? 

I had no lymph node involvement and had clear margins. It was decided in a team meeting with radio oncologist for me to have 5 weeks of radiation on the flap, due to younger age, size of lump (ILC-5cm) - although it was 2 bits lumped together into one and grade 2, pathology of the sample found focal-vascular-space-invasion, which hadn't spread anywhere outside the breast, but radio oncologist thought it could spread to lymph nodes in the future. Does this warrant radiation?

I am on zoladex and ai.  

I have an appointment with the surgeon to discuss further but wanted to see if anyone has any suggestions or similar experience?

 

diep-flap
mastectomy
radiotherapy
Reconstruction

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  • Julez1958's avatar
    Julez1958
    Member
    21 days ago

    Hi I had DIEP flap reconstruction after double mastectomy .

    The size of my tumour (6cm) meant my team thought I would be likely to need radiation and my plastic surgeon said in  that case I would need to wait at least 6 months after the end of radiotherapy for the DIEP flap reconstruction.
    I had tissue expanders inserted after the skin  sparing  mastectomy.
    My plastic surgeon was very experienced and I followed his advice.
    I had 28 sessions of radiotherapy .

    I was very happy with my results.

    The cancer breast had a few hard lumpy bits initially butthey went away over time and the breasts are soft now.

    Ask to join the private group on here “ Choosing breast Reconstruction” there are lots of stories and photos on there.