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
Have you replaced implants after radio? What's your experience/issues/advice +capsule (kept /rem'd)?
I'm in discussions with two surgeons (initial and then second opinion) about removing my 10-year-old textured and radiated implants and either going flat or replacing implants. I posed a similar question on the reconstruction group - I'm hoping this main chat has some people who have faced re-reconstruction. I was first diagnosed with BC in 2011 and had a loco-regional recurrence in 2014. I had a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in 2011 (39 years old), and the other side was prophylactically done a year later. Due to the recurrence, I had radiation to the implant reconstructed site (10 years ago). The implants are the textured variety. The radiated side has some contracture (firm/tight), but specialists have told me it's not too bad (but it feels average to me). I also have a fair amount of tight scar tissue under my arm due to the recurrence and radiation. I'm so confused because two surgeons have advised different processes for removing the current implants. One of the surgeons has suggested that due to the radiated skin and existing scar tissue, I have up to 50% chance of failure of replacing implants, resulting in needing a flap reconstruction or going flat. This has frightened the life out of me because I thought the replacement surgery would be relatively minor (a simple grease and oil change LOL) This surgeon suggests removing as much of the scar tissue capsule around the implant as possible before inserting the new implant (but not because of breast Implant Illness concerns - neither surgeon is on the en bloc/ BII train). Removing the radiated capsule could remove the current hardness and minor deformity. This surgeon also advises I may need up to 3 fat sculpting surgeries to smooth out the breast (thin) skin (but that’s more general anaesthetics and recovery and $s!). The other surgeon suggests leaving the capsule as is and placing the new implant inside the existing capsule. As my skin is very thin from the mastectomy, removing the capsule could hinder healing and create more scar tissue/infection/concaving. The fact that this area is radiated means the newly created scar tissue capsule could be worse than the one removed. I guess this approach means the existing firmness stays – but hopefully, it shouldn’t get worse if it heals without infection (better the devil, you know?). If you replaced your implants after radiation, what has been your experience, scars, issues and advice? Did your surgeon remove or keep your existing capsule?
Lumpectomy vs mastectomy and lymph nodes surgery
I’m a stage 2 early breast cancer patient . Triple positive . Lump 4mm on detection now reduced down less than 2mm with 4 weeks of taxcel chemo to go ( previously completed r x fortnightly AC chemo). Herceptin Infusions has been weekly 8 weeks , another 4 to go then becomes 3 weekly in 2021 . I’m now at point of having to decide on surgery option. I’ll be clarifying these questions to my surgery team as well . ive been told,I’m a candidate for lumpectomy , and this will require radiation treatment .the question of reconstruction I’ve decided can be left for later ( at present I don’t think I will bother but.....one doesn’t always know till you are really in that situation). it was made clear to me that status of my lymph nodes is almost a separate issue . At present no sign of enlargement on physical,exam or scan or ultrasound . Sentenial lymph nodes will be checked On day of surgery has anyone been in same situation where lymph nodes were found to be cancerous- how many ? did you have wide clearance Of the breast lump with lumpectomy and radiation? ( with clear margins at lumpectomy). What I suppose I’m trying to get my head around is a few issues radiation therapy - it’s been a interesting time with chemo ( that I had to have ) and I’d somehow like to avoid radiation therapy . Q if I opt for mastectomy -can I avoid radiation If lymph nodes clear ? Or if it’s in lymph nodes , they’ll do,a clearance/wide excision will I end up having to have radiation as well Hope that makes sense . I do understand that radiation burns etc do not end up a major issue with everyone but I’m tending to think it’s one less,toxin to impose on my body . Surgery isn’t easy either but......
One warm, one cool
I’m just putting this out there to see if anyone else has experienced this, or if I should go for full-blown panic. Nine months ago I had a lumpectomy, and radiotherapy for 20 treatments. During the recovery from surgery I developed breast lymphoedema which settled in for good during the radiotherapy. I do manual drainage massage every day which seems to keep it under control. My query has to do with the temperature of each breast. The unaffected breast is usually cool to the touch. The bc breast is warm to the touch. The bc breast is a little heavier, has various bumps (which the doctors assure are ‘normal’), and it still has a bluish dye in one area. The skin is a bit tougher but I think that’s because it gets all that massage every day. Is this the usual result of the chopping, sewing, cooking and pummelling my breast has endured?
Bruising 4 months post surgery
Hi All, has anyone else experienced significant bruising well after surgery? I had a bilateral mastectomy in May and finished radiotherapy a week ago (yay!) but now have a hell of a bruise on the prophylactic side that didn't get radiotherapy. I'm confident I didn't punch myself in my sleep so was wondering if it was just one of those new weird and wonderful things that happen to us booby people now? Thanks :)options other than medications
Hi My name is Margarita, I will be 54 this year. Its been twelve months since my cancer operations (had lump removed only), and I had 6 weeks of radiation. my cancer was only grade 1 and had not gone to Lymph modes, even thought had 5 removed to check how far it had spread, because it was invasive. I am still having the monthly injections of Goserelin as I was still having my periods and not started menopause. in August my oncologist put me on exemestane a my cancer was hormonal base, by November my liver levels got really high that I was referred to Liver specialist an she believed it was the medication. I had been off the medication for 10 weeks and my levels dropped and my oncologist put me on Gemox, I was on these for two weeks and had an allergic reaction, that made my body itchy and irritated my eye and my head was sure not thinking straight. my oncologist had taken me off these, will see her next week on 18th my question is what is next, since non of the medication is liking my body. my husband is not happy that I have to take any medication since my grade was only 1 and had not found anything else, he wasn't happy that I decided to go ahead with the six weeks of radiation... some advise or suggestions I would appreciate.
Surgery & radiotherapy tips
Hi all, I'm about to finish chemo after 6 months of treatment so next up is surgery and radiotherapy. I'm having a double mastectomy without a reconstruction as I don't have enough body fat to make it worth having a flap reconstruction. It's going to be tough getting used to this but at least I don't have to have major surgery! I'm meeting with my surgeon later this week to work out the timing of everything but was wondering if anyone had any tips or issues/options/questions to bring up with my surgeon or breast care nurse?
Libido & Tamoxifen
I have very recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and have just had surgery. My doctor recommends that I take Tamoxifen following radiotherapy. Some literature says that Tamoxifen can reduce libido yet other brochures don't mention this as a side effect. Since my libido is already low (LOL) I'm not really keen on a further reduction! I was wondering whether other women taking Tamoxifen have experienced this side effect or not? Thanks.
Still waiting!
Hi all, Even though I have been given a positive result from my surgery I am still waiting to hear from the medical oncologist to see when or if I am going to have chemo before starting radiotherapy. It is so hard to plan anything beyond next week especially as school holidays is coming up. I know I am one of the lucky ones and I don't have to face more surgery which I am so grateful for. To all of you out there I am thinking of you and I know you are well supported. This is such a great site. Al xx