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?
Negative impact of radiation on Flap (autologous) reconstruction??
Hi all, will have mastectomy in a couple of months time, am considering to have an immediate breast reconstruction (IBC) using my own tissues/ flap (autologous). Unfortunately, I will have a series of radiation after the IBC. I am worried the radiotherapy will kill/destroy/ causing complications on the flaps. I did some research at my end. However the comments were conflicting. Therefore would appreciate your advice. Please..no advice is too silly. Thanks heaps!
Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome
Hi everyone!!!! I was diagnosed with BC last year. I had DCIS and IDC......I had conserving surgery partial mastectomy with a flap reconstruction done......I had my yearly follow up in June this year and the mammogram and ultrasound picked up a mass....I had the biopsy straight away and it didn't contain any cancer cells......It was necrotic tissue. So I had to go back to Breast surgeon 3mths later which was last week....She said I was fine....I saw my radiation oncologist the day later for my routine check up......He told me I have radiation fibrosis syndrome.......I have pain daily and have trouble with the tendon at the front of my arm pit and pain in my arm, breast and left side of my breast. He told me it wont get better but will probably get worse and if I can't handle the pain he will give me medication which settle down the inflammation in the under lying cells which were damaged through the radiation. I was wondering if anyone out there has had this and if anyone knows if I should just have the whole breast removed.....I would be grateful to hear from you.....I don't like the idea of living the rest of my life with daily pain and restricted movement in my arm. Thank you :)
Radiotherapy burns
Hi everyone. I’m new here & wondering if someone has gone through something similar. I was diagnosed with grade 1 breast cancer & had a lumpectomy in June 2024. I finished 15 sessions of radiotherapy two & a half weeks ago. I’m quite shocked how severe my burns are near my arm pit. The burns peaked around 5 days ago. I’ve seen the nurse twice in the last week & she has assured me it all looks normal. She suggested applying solugel & keeping it bandaged. The problem is every bandage I’ve tried either slips off or the sticky part irritates my breast. I’m not sure how to get it to stay in place. Not even the bandage that the nurse put on lasted more than 2 hours. Any ideas? Also how long before your burns started to heal? Thanks
1/2 through radiation, and I'm Knackered,
so here I am on week 3 of 6 of this radiation treatment, and I'm so over it! After my last post on tips and tricks on how to get through and all the updates about my horrible radiation team, like that horrible Dr and Nurse, I found the courage to put in a formal written complaint to the manager of said clinic. It was dealt with immediately and with in under 12 hours I had a new Dr and now only see the nurse manager, and the centre manager makes a point of saying hello and being super helpful Good out come all round. But it should have never needed to get to that in the first place. But now I have discovered I have folliculitis on my chest and neck :neutral: thanks to the radiation - my skin is holding up thank goodness, its only slightly pink, I hope I have not just gone and jinx myself. My throat is now sore and swallowing is fun, not! But this fatigue is killing me, All the things I could do pre cancer, pre chemo and now pre radiation, is like a distance memory, well not really, my mind say yeah we can do this, the body clearly has other ideas. 3 more weeks to go (including this week) then just, maybe just - I can start putting my life back into MY hands and not the medical teams hand who seem to be pulling all the strings. that's my update. Happy Hump day everyone :)
Feeling cold all the time
Anyone else feeling cold all the time after treatment? Had surgery and radiotherapy last year & started Letrozole in June. Had a few side effects from the Letrozole - occasional hot flush, big weight gain, occasional trouble sleeping (but that could be because my brain comes up with plot ideas as I'm an author...lol), diarrhea. Continual fatigue since radiotherapy. Anyway now it's autumn and although the temps are around 20 I'm feeling cold all the time. Rugged up, sit wrapped in a blanket, etc. I simply cannot get warm. Never used to feel this cold until the temps were in the low single digits...lol
Where to have radiotherapy?
Hi, I hope to get some feedback about where to have radiotherapy treatment. I live in Melbourne. Was thinking the Austin because its close to home, but now wondering if Peter Mac is better or perhaps a private facility? Are they all the same? I know some public hospitals are training hospitals, so not sure if that effects anything?Radiotherapy and Fatigue
Good morning, I'm only 5 fractions into my 15 day radiation treatment (post BC surgery, no chemo) and i'm feeling like I've been hit by a bus. My skin is holding up well (so far) but even after a short walk yesterday I needed to rest. I realise that the effects are cumulative, so I'm a little worried about the next 2 weeks. Any tips on how best to manage this, on top of gentle exercise and rest? cactusk (Kelly)
EXPERT Trial
Hi, New to this .... post Lumpectomy Stage 1/2 12mm, I have just been asked if I would consider joining the EXPERT trial. I can't see any recent posts since the thread from 2019. I have lots of questions (which I will ask the radiation oncologist) but would be interested in others point of view/concerns etc. thanks