Surgical options when you need radiation post surgery ???
Hi All
I am seeking advice/information about what options you were given for surgery when you needed to have radiation post surgery.
A bit about me, I am 52 single mum to adult sons (one still at home). I was diagnosed with IDC Grade 3 Triple Negative BC in early May. I have been undergoing neoadjuvant chemo and have just completed my last AC treatment, but still have 6 months of immunotherapy to continue.
I've lost 10kg as a result of AC treatment. I struggle with being able to eat much so the weight loss may continue which won't be ideal. I get fatigued extremely easily with shakes and feeling like I'm going to faint after simple activities like doing dishes and food shopping. So I'm pretty house bound with minimal family support available.
Back to my main question, what surgical options were you given and what warnings about negative side effects of radiation?
My initial thought was to have a DMX with immediate implant reconstruction but the Oncoplastics team feel i should go for a SMX with DIEP reconstruction due to the radiation requirement. Due to my weight loss I probably only have just enough tissue for the single DIEP procedure and I'll likely need fairly extensive node removal also as I had 3 active nodes at diagnosis.
My concerns are the length of the surgery needed, the scarring from the DIEP procedure and the recovery time as I have my first grandchild due to arrive around Christmas time.
Any advice, stories, photos, anything would be much appreciated.
Thank you for reading this and I hope your journey is going well.
Sandi
I am seeking advice/information about what options you were given for surgery when you needed to have radiation post surgery.
A bit about me, I am 52 single mum to adult sons (one still at home). I was diagnosed with IDC Grade 3 Triple Negative BC in early May. I have been undergoing neoadjuvant chemo and have just completed my last AC treatment, but still have 6 months of immunotherapy to continue.
I've lost 10kg as a result of AC treatment. I struggle with being able to eat much so the weight loss may continue which won't be ideal. I get fatigued extremely easily with shakes and feeling like I'm going to faint after simple activities like doing dishes and food shopping. So I'm pretty house bound with minimal family support available.
Back to my main question, what surgical options were you given and what warnings about negative side effects of radiation?
My initial thought was to have a DMX with immediate implant reconstruction but the Oncoplastics team feel i should go for a SMX with DIEP reconstruction due to the radiation requirement. Due to my weight loss I probably only have just enough tissue for the single DIEP procedure and I'll likely need fairly extensive node removal also as I had 3 active nodes at diagnosis.
My concerns are the length of the surgery needed, the scarring from the DIEP procedure and the recovery time as I have my first grandchild due to arrive around Christmas time.
Any advice, stories, photos, anything would be much appreciated.
Thank you for reading this and I hope your journey is going well.
Sandi
