Exchange City
Comments
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JAX: You have been through so much. Just reading your latest saga of complications makes me gasp outloud!! I am praying for you....praying that this new plan works at long last!0
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please forgive me for barging in. i didn't think i'd be thinking about exchange surgery until july or august, but now ... i don't know.
i had a bilateral mastectomy w/reconstruction on 12/31/08. i have tissue expanders and am approaching my last chemo treatment on 5/13 (thank god!). i'm trying to decide on radiation therapy, which may or may not be necessary for my diagnosis.
Meanwhile, I emailed my breast surgeon about having to wait 6 months after my rads for exchange surgery (which is what the first radiation oncologist told me), and he just now writes back: "if you need radiation therapy, then we need to remove your tissue expanders and place permanent implants FIRST. Radiation therapy has a significant impact on the breast skin. The best results come from placing the implant prior. After radiation, healing is very unpredictable."
this is the first i've heard of having the exchange BEFORE rads. has anyone else had any experience with this? i'm so confused!!!
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Lisa810,
I am so sorry that your doctor is dropping a bomb like that. Dr(s) circle the wagons every now and again.
We just went through this with my P/S who was stoked to do a one stage recon, never said a bad thing about it. Then on the first follow up he tells me and my BF that "this is why we don't like to do one stage, because of the need for revisions" My BF and I just stared at him, when we got my surgical report he talks in the report about me demanding a one stage recon. Needless to say we were floored.
The healing after rads can be an issue, my rads were 7 years ago, and there was definite tissue damage to the muscle, but I always thought they did the rads with the expander in place because they were unsure of the impact of rads on the implant.
You might more info from a plastic surgeon and a radiologist than your B/S.
I love your signature, I quote Dory all the time, I have even managed to work the line into an article here and there.
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Vinogal I don't mind sharing! LOL
I'm 5'9" and I weigh 145 pounds and I wear a 34D!
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Awesome Lisa thanks.....helps alot......I am 5'8 about 145.......so very similar.......I may need to be a little wider.....like I believe yours are 13 cm.....and I may need 13.5.....which bumps me up to 495cc.......but we'll see......I hope to look as good as you........but again.....we'll wait and see.......right now I'll be happy with......done.
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Sheila - Thanks so very much for the information. I saved the post to my local drive so that I can refer to it. It helps a lot!!! And you solidified my thoughts that the nips will have to wait until fall (groan).
Jax - Oh my dear!!! The struggles you have had w/ TE's. I put you down for May 19 - all hugs and thoughts will be with you that day!!! I can't wait till you are done.
Deborah - I don't know how you do it, you floor me w/ your knowledge of implants. Are your's getting better over time? Are you still using cool whip containers?
Lisa - Man - way to make you crazy huh? I can't help you but there are other ladies on this thread that know a lot about radiation and implants, like Big Apple. Best wishes.
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Lisa810,
My PS wanted to do the implants before my radiation as he said that the new literature states the end result is better. I got a second opinion from another radiation oncologist ( mine was OK with either before or after radiation). She did not believe I had the luxury of waiting for radiation until my skin healed from the exchange and if there happened to be any surgical complications or healing issues, the timing before radiation would be extended. So after much thought, I went with kill the cancer first and exchange later. I completed my 33 radiation treatments the end of June 2008 and had my exchange 2/25/09. So far so good. Yes the skin is tighter on the radiation side and is discolored. My PS told me at my last visit to use 100% pure cocoa butter on both sides. I have not seen a difference yet but it has not been 2 weeks yet.
I have read on the internet a study about exchange first then radiation and the results were better. I could not find it but seems like it was a New York Hospital.
Which ever decision you make will be fine. Hope all goes well.
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Well, Deborah, it's just a fact that you and Sandy are good at this implant stuff -- I wish I had had you both around when I was choosing my implants!
Jax - I am so sorry to hear about the new complication! Keeping my fingers crossed that everything holds on til your exchange - less than a month, sweetie!
Just got back from my nip/areola follow-up appt with my PS. This is my second one -- almost two weeks out from surgery. The graft on the right side is doing very well. On the left side, I've lost some of the top-level tissue. My PS didn't seem too concerned. He said there are no signs of infection, and that's the main thing. He also said that the deep tissue is still fine, but now it will take an add'l 2-3 weeks to heal as long as it doesn't get infected. He said to keep it covered and use Betadyne ointment every day. Well, I've been using the Betadyne when I cover it, but the last 2 days I let it "air out" for several hours after my shower since I was the only one home. It seemed like a good thing to do at the time -- there were little blister-like bubbles forming, and then the skin on top of the bubble would peel away. He said that's the worst thing you can do -- not only was I exposing it to germs in the air, but drying the tissue out just makes it die faster. Oooops! So now I'll be a good girl and keep it covered. I'm taking an add'l week off work, although he said that I could go back if I'm comfortable enough. But I'd have to wear a bra, and when I tried that a few days ago it seemed to actually make the problem with the graft worse. Ack - if it's not one thing, it's another, right?
Sheila
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Anna I'm just double checking the becker mentor implants for you
if anybody is trying to find these they are under tissue expanders on the mentor web site.
From your dim you gave 15.1 by 5.0 I take it you have the smooth 50 sizes which are 50% silicone gel in outer lumen and 50% saline in inner lumen.
Since you're a 34D I take it you must have a small rib cage. I'm also a 34D and I have the Mentor high profile 550cc silicone implants which are 13.6 by 5.6. They are just a little wider than the 500cc. My rib cage is 29 inches. If you could share your rib cage size that would help us. If your rib cage is about the same as mine I don't think you'd want to go any wider than the 550cc implant. 15.1 sounds like a wide implant for a 34 bra size. Tell us do you feel them seem wide on you. After my 1st exchange I had a implant that was only 11.4 and had an 2nd exchange to get a wider one.
oh Sheila thanks for the nice works , I haven't read through all the above post but saw your nice comment right before posting this
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Sheila I just read your going to get another week off good for you
this Friday it's suppose to be 80 almost
I sure wish I was still off
ok now time to read the older post...
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Sheila: That part about "Housework" - "milk it for as long as you can" had me giggling and sighing longingly. That did not work for long with my DH though. He graduated with honors from the "Get Your Butt Out of Bed School of Nursing."
While you are home - could you employ the Sandy Sunshine Cool Whip Container System - to really seal in the moisture on the nipples?
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Jean I'm starting back at your post...
1. I agree.. As long as you are getting some support I think you should be fine. If someone is wearing a tight bra I think that would be fine also.
2 again I agree
3 I don't think they would hurt and could start right away if your up too it
4 yes I was told to massage from all side but I think wait about 4 weeks before doing that so things heal 1st
5 should be fine just don't do over 15 lbs for the 1st week or so
6 it's never ok lol try to get out of it for as long as you can : )
7 I hear it's good to wait 4 months for nipple surgery after a exchange. If you don't do the graft your recovery will be much less. 1 week after my surgery I went out for a 50+ mile bike ride. I'm still going to wait another week before I start running though.
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Thanks for the responses Sandy!
Sheila - I too plan to do the graft surgery, so I totally relate to your issues. I would have thought air was good for healing. Shows you what I know (LOL!).
Deborah - Get your but out of bed school of nursing, huh? That made me smile!
Dietcokemom - How was your exchange.
Kmmd - You are on deck! Best wishes my dear!
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Jax huge (((HUG))) coming your way
Lisa I hope some of the gals chime in on the rads
I'm sure our best gal Laura will when she has a chance
I know in her case she is waiting for her exchange about 6 months after rads
Deb thanks for making me smile
Jean your very welcome : - )
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Sandy & Deborah & Shelia - Thank you for all of your replies! Yes they are the becker 50s. My implants do look a little wide for my frame. My ps says he will revise the pockets on the side so that my implants won't be in my arm pits anymore. I too think I need 550 cc to keep my current size. My rib cage is a little less than a 29. I can post pictures if you tell me how
Sandy - how do you like your implants? Do they feel natural? Do you have pictures posted? Thank you so much for all of your help!!
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Ah yes, Deb, the famous SSCWCS -- I just may have to try that! First I'll have to go buy some Cool Whip and eat it though ... oh, the things we'll do for nice foobs! 0
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Anna - I see that you are a brand new member to bc.org. The Pictures Forum is a separate website, established by a member of bc.org to be private and protected. Approval for entry is granted by Fumi, aka Timtam. She is probably going to want to see you post a few more times before giving you permission. This is simply to protect the privacy of those of us who have posted our pictures. So navigate around here and post in some other forums/threads. Perhaps post an answer to someone's question regarding implants, since you have already been down this road.
How did you find us, by the way?
You can PM [private message] Timtam now and she will give you approval once she sees that you are becoming an active member of these forums.
Link to PM Timtam
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whippetmom: He graduated with honors from the "Get Your Butt Out of Bed School of Nursing." Cracked me up. In my house it is balanced out by the fact that I majored in the "watch how long I can recuperate by laying on the couch and let all of that work go undone without it bothering me" program.
Thanks for everyone's best wishes this week. I'm on the tail end of a cold that I was beginning to worry was going to keep me from surgery but I'm doing better now. Maybe its a good thing, kept me occupied and from getting too nervous.
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Bigapple09, Mykidsmom, 2Twentyeigh, rockwell_girl ... thanks so much for your kind replies.
And I meant to say "my beloved plastic surgeon" above. He actually called me before (I was too woogled to pick up the phone) and suggested we talk on the phone or in person, and he'll show me the supporting data. for implants before rads. I've also emailed my internist and she's going to talk to him and my breast surgeon and my oncologist and do some research and she and I will discuss further at my appt next week. The whole thing is so dizzying because my treatment is preventative, I have a low chance of recurrence as it stands right now. I think i'm officially in "the gray zone".
This thread is a veritable fount of info! I'm afraid I don't have it in me to read back, but I plan on lurking daily! Congrats to all of you who are on the other end of this long strange trip, and to those of you about to make the leap. i envy you! (most days, i don't mind my TE's. on sore achey days, they make me so insane, i want just to rip them out.)
Funny aside: my current foobs are named ‘rocky' and ‘ahnold'. My new soft squishy ones will be christened ‘Raquel' and ‘Sophia' ... hee!
Bigapple09, when i was first diagnosed, a dear friend gave me a plush Dory who "talks" when you squeeze her fin. i heart dory.
(((everyone)))
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((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Jax)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Wishing this was all over for you already. Hang in there girlfriend!
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wow ladies can you believe we are 85 pages long and have 2545 post and this thread has been viewed 31,632 times. I would say we're pretty popular gals : - )
Anna I was only filled to 430cc in my TE so that might be why mine aren't super soft but at least they are softer than my smaller saline implants I had the 1st time that were filled to the rim.
Since you can't get to the pix forum I will post this pix
If you take a close look you can see my original scar from my mastectomy really healed well
I tell you the cool whip bowl really worked : - )
I'll have to try that on my lift scar to try and make that one better
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Sandy......I could look at your boobs all day.........who knew I would be as obsessed with breast as my DH is.......praying for similar results!......they look marvelous!....I know I've said it before.....but they really do!
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Vinogal
Your feelings are nornal LOL
There was a Topic started several months ago about being obsessed with looking at women's breast. It was a hoot.....
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Anna maybe even ask your PS about the Natrelle implants. They offer a style 45 full profile
550cc are 12.4 by 6.0
600cc are 12.8 by 6.1
650cc are 13.2 by 6.2
700cc are 13.5 by 6.4
These offer a lot better projection if you want to make sure you keep your D and could even get a DD if that's something your after
from what I know I think a 12.8 or 13.2 might look good on your rib cage size
I'm a little surprised you have a 15.1 now. That sounds wide for your small rib cage
oh Jax thanks, I hope we can have matching boobs and let the sisters reunite in Vegas : - )
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Sandy - It will be worth all the obsessing I'm doing about my exchange to implants if they can even look close to as good as yours. Amazing!
Peg
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Jax, I am so so sorry.. ARE YOU KIDDING me.... girl..how are you really holding up? Prayers and Hugs!
Lisa.... I am a gray zone girl. because I am Her2+.. everyone said rads as I had 1-3 positive nodes...My rads doctor wanted my implants in before and my Plastic said no no no. I think it is individual. MD Anderson says exchange 6-12 months after rads... Sloan Kettering says implants before rads. So I think both are right. Either was you go. I wanted my implants before rads just so I could be closer to DONE... but my Plastic said he will still need to clean out scar tissue after rads and has better luck waiting the 6 months for all to do its thing.. then exchange.
If you wanna chat.. PM me...... I fought rads all the way... but it is over now.. and I will just deal with what I have to deal with....
Ladies... hope your day was grand!
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Sandy - WOW! You look fabulous. Thanks for posting your pic.It gives us expanded girls something to look forward to. I'm scheduled for my exchange on Monday. (550 Mentor Silicone Gel) 6 days until soft boobs. Yahooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karen
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JAX - I laughed so hard at what you said to Sandy.....OMG....that was so funny and I could tell, so heartfelt.
Sandy, I am as amazed and thrilled as you about the popularity of this thread. It is because we all have something special together here....
I am so glad Jean started it...BTW, who makes that bathing suit top you are wearing? It is so cute...
Laura - I see you posting more this past week and so I am hoping that this means you are getting your strength back and feeling so much better. I am so thrilled you are on the other side of your treatment now and and you can move on with reconstruction.
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I got my swim suit from Victoria Secrets about 1-2 years ago
I can't wait for Vegas it will be great to all get together
((((((HUG)))))) to all : - )
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Silly question but after you exchange when did you doctor have you come back for a follow-up ?? I have my exchange scheduled for June 17 and I am itching to go on vacation at the end of June beginning of July but I am not sure about the follow up care. I don't have my appt. with my PS until next month but we wanted to try and figure out if we can go on vacation.
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