Topic: Radiation with tissue expander

Hello,

I was worried about this as well. I had 30 radiation treatments on my expander side, and I'm happy to say, everything healed great! I have not had my exchange yet, so maybe I'm speaking too soon, but my PS was very pleased when he looked at it 3 months post radiation, and he is VERY picky and warned me about radiation's possible effects. He thinks I'll be just fine to get my implant... I hope he's right!

 Anyway, I had a very positive experience with radiation so just wanted to share -- best of luck to you both!

Its nice to hear some positive experiences because I have heard nothing but durogatory things. Like the skin is never the same again, deformation I havent heard anything positive. Its really nice of you to share your experiences, its a very scary thing to go through. Did you have to use anything for  your skin, did it burn?, and if its not too personal how much did you get expanded to befor rads? and will they expand you anymore after rads? Thanks again ladies.

I had my exchange and then rads 3 weeks later.  Skin did well and healed fine.  So far so good and no cc.  (rads ended 3 months ago)  Both ps and rad onc say my skin looks good!

I am hearing that a bit now.  My PS wants me to get a second opinions.  He is not happy with rads with a TE.  The radiologist acted like it was a no brainer.  I am SOOOOOO confused.  I hope we can hear from more who have had this done.

I had my bli. mastectomy with TE February 2008.  When the path report came back, my margins were not good so I needed radiation.  It was April when I found this out.  My PS preferred to preform the exchange and then have me do the radiation but he was OK with me having radiation first.  He said based on current research the end result was better when the exchange was first.  I spoke with my radiation oncologist and he presented my case to the tumor board and radiation was recommended first but gave me the option.  I decided to get second opinion from another radiation oncologist.  She believed that I did not have the luxury to wait until after the exhange and the healing from that surgery and if I had complications it would be longer.  So after much thought I had the radiation first.  I had 33 treatments that ended the end of June 2008.  I had my exhange Feb. 2009.  So far, so good.  The skin is tighter and there is a possibility it will be even tighter as time goes on.  That side is also a different color.  I am still deciding on nipples.  My PS said he has not lost a nipple yet due to radiation.

Good luck and I hope everything works out for you. 

well it seems that rads are being done more often now with tissue expanders when i was doing research about this I found that if your ps is not confident you should get a second opinion because it seems that some have had many cases and know what they are dealing with and other really dont.  PS should be able to fix anything these days so lets hope this is true

LynnVa 

glad to hear your ps is working with you and it seems that others are doing quite well with rads and expanders so I am sure you will have great results keep us posted with how you are doing with rads

2Twentyeigh

Good new's that we all need to hear that your treatment went well and so did the exchange did you get expanded any more after rads before your exchange? keep us updated on your progress  did you use any creams?

Jrgolomb 

Well it sound like the outcome is good for us with all these postings so your perky breast should be just fine..lol

Let's keep this convo going!

Hi, I have a saline implant/expander in and have just started six weeks of radiation.  My PS was unhappy when she heard I had to have Rads, but didn't say much.  She wants to see me three months after the Rads are completed, which'll be around September '09.

PrincessKauai59   so you have a expander in and did your ps fill you up or did they just leave it as is? what are your cc,s?  

jrgolomb  well it seems they are not happy but being a ps you think they could fix us up if needed?  this is all very confusing but i spoke with two different rad onc and they both said the outcome of patients they have seen have been okay the skin is just not the same then the ps will say something different like infection skin breakdown and cant expand the skin after rads but i have read post of people who have been expander after rads so who really knows what is going on  i even went to my dermatologist and he explained to me that as we age our skin thins and once you get rad our skin thins alot faster then normal but what all that means i really don't know.  I just don't get it why cant they grow our skin?

My rad onc was pretty adamant about the exchange being done before rads and my PS reluctantly agreed.  The reasoning was that my TE had a big metal port that could have caused the radiation to scatter and cause much more skin damage.  I will be halfway through rads (28 treatments) tomorrow and my implant is fine and I have no skin problems so far.  It seems like every situation is different and doctor's don't always agree. 

Bonnie 

How is everyone doing with the rads and expander? Its been about a week or so since we started this thread. Has there been any skin changes? How are you girls feeling? Stay strong.

jrgolomb  my ps said after rads they can scrap some of the scar tissue away when then do the exchange but i didn't hear anything about the muscle what happens?

I'm one rad away from being DONE!   My expander is doing good... my skin feels a little tighter, and I do get a little bit of a twinge on the upper portion, but that's about it.  Now let's hope it stays that way!  I'll see my PS in about 2 months. 

Hi susan13   T.hat is great new's.  So how much did they expand you to before rad how much cc's ?

I have had 16 tx with expander on right side. So far I have had no problems. Both my rad onc and my ps felt that I should be alright with this. My last fill was way back in Dec. and I am not huge just perky. I have felt some tightening but nothing uncomfortable. No other se's and I am halfway done. Hope it stays this way. My ps plans on doing exchange sometime in the fall and lifting Miss Lefty to match foobular Miss Righty. Whoo Hoo!!!!!!