Posted on:
Jan 15, 2012 09:30PM
CO
Joined:
Feb 2006
Posts:
4,899
Latest activity:
Dec 10, 2019
karen1956
wrote:
I've had my current set of implants....mentor silicone implants for 3 1/2 years now...and there are times I feel like I want to claw my chest off...this is mostly in the evening....I haven't been to the PS in 1 1/2 years (or is it 2 1/2 years) and have no plans to make an appt for him to just look at them and say yup, they are still symmetrical....don't get me wrong, I like my PS, just not into medical appt anymore (only see my onc)....so is this due to the implants? or is it just me....even though there is "no feeling", there are times I'm just so itchy....also, my back gets itcy as well....I now its nothing to worry about...more its just annoying...
Karen in Denver, Dx 02/03/2006, ILC, stage IIIa, ER/PR+, HER2-,
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crossh
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Joined:
Oct 2018
Posts:
38
Latest activity:
Oct 11, 2019
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Jul 30, 2019 07:11AM
crossh
wrote:
I'm 4 months out since my last surgery, final implant placement. I also have the itch you can't scratch. It feels like it's under the implant. Sometimes it's one side, sometimes the other. The more you try to scratch, the more it itches. I thought I was going to bust open my implant last night I was rubbing it so hard! It's awful. My PS also said it was nerve regeneration. Hopefully it goes away.
Dx
9/1/2016, DCIS/IDC, Right, 5cm, Stage IA, Grade 1, 0/1 nodes, ER+, HER2+
Surgery
9/30/2016 Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Sentinel
Surgery
10/31/2016 Lumpectomy: Right
Surgery
5/1/2017 Lumpectomy: Right; Lymph node removal: Right
Surgery
1/2/2019 Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
11yrsout
Joined:
Sep 2019
Posts:
1
Latest activity:
Sep 5, 2019
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Sep 2, 2019 01:31PM
11yrsout
wrote:
Unbelievable! I'm 11 years out and have been complaining about this can't-reach itch since day one! Everyone looks at me like I'm making it up. Every single doc has shrugged at my asking WTF is going on. Yeah, I get it that it's nerve-related, but until reading all of your postings, ladies, I have never heard of someone else experiencing this! I use the same words: clawing, can't reach, happens more at night....
So, here is the power of group therapy/forums. Somehow there is comfort in knowing I'm not alone here. Okay, so we ALL claw at ourselves until the front of our T-shirts are stretched out! What now?
The woman who mentioned Vagisil has given me the only hope. I'll investigate this.
No one in my life understands how agonizing this is. I'm about to have surgery to redo my implants as one has ruptured - incapsulated. I am praying that having things fixed will magically relieve the itching.
People think that once your cancer is gone - and of course that is the #1 objective - that you're fine. My reconstruction has been agonizing for all these years. And now I have Lymphedema; a slight case compared to many, but enough to keep me from living normally and doing some things I love to do.
robinblesse…
Yucaipa, California
Joined:
Jan 2015
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564
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Dec 10, 2019
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Sep 20, 2019 01:37PM
robinblessed54
wrote:
Karen1956, I have been scratching like a first baseman just not my crotch! You can’t get to it. But here’s my story:
I have the recalled Allergan 410 textured implants. 
Yes, I am angry! I have an appointment with my PS on October 24. I am demanding explanting them and replace them with smooth ones. I believe this has to do with the BIA-ALCL. I am looking forward to softer results.
Robin
Dx
9/2/2014, ILC, Left, 1cm, Stage IB, Grade 1, 0/5 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
9/25/2014 Mastectomy: Left, Right; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement
Hormonal Therapy
10/15/2014 Arimidex (anastrozole)
Hormonal Therapy
12/30/2014 Aromasin (exemestane)
Surgery
3/5/2015 Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
Hormonal Therapy
3/14/2015 Femara (letrozole)
Surgery
12/21/2016 Reconstruction (left): Nipple tattoo; Reconstruction (right): Nipple tattoo
Di2012
Seattle-Tacoma, WA, USA
Joined:
Dec 2012
Posts:
804
Latest activity:
Dec 10, 2019
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Oct 4, 2019 06:56PM
Di2012
wrote:
I have the itchys (and swelling)........& also have the recalled Implants too! It began lt a couple months less 2 years after "installed in 2016.....I emailed my breast surgeon and she told me to contact my plastic surgeon....he order an MRI and showed 3 enlarged lymph nodes under lefty and 1 enlarged lymph node (righty) behind my chest wall....BUT not on the MRI when cancer was confirmed at DX. (No reaction by PS
My Oncologist ordered another MRI 6 months later, and again at 1 year later...along with a ultrasound .....lymph nodes still there after 1.5 years......the last was in May 2017
I saw my BS this week and although he does not think it is anything to worry about, but HE wants to remove the Implants and send everything to pathology...(righty node cannot be removed,) and reconstruct my chest, with or without TINY implant which will NOT be under my chest muscles.
(Had to have my 13.5 year old Boston Terrier, Jelly Beans , euthanized this afternoon..I am.very VERY sad and so are her 3 " kids"....her only male dog, BUOY, looked and sniffed at her, in her little "coffin shaped " box the vet put her in for me to take her home for burial, and began whining and howling...the " girls" Chu Chu, and Vivi sniffed her and would walk away, and go look at her again and again they looked very sad.......they knew (as well as us humans) that she was having seizure more and more often, and today was terrible IT WAS time.)
DI
Mentor 600cc HP gels moved towards armpits & exchanged 3/26/15 to Allergan410MF-580cc.
Surgery
12/21/2012 Mastectomy: Left, Right
Surgery
1/21/2013 Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement
Surgery
4/15/2013 Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
Surgery
7/15/2013 Reconstruction (left); Reconstruction (right)
Surgery
12/31/2013 Reconstruction (left): Fat grafting, Nipple reconstruction; Reconstruction (right): Fat grafting, Nipple reconstruction
Surgery
3/26/2015 Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
Surgery
7/14/2015 Reconstruction (left)
Dx
1cm
MinusTwo
Houston, TX
Joined:
Apr 2011
Posts:
11,014
Latest activity:
Dec 10, 2019
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Oct 8, 2019 06:00PM
MinusTwo
wrote:
I am posting this on several threads that might be relevant.
I have the Allergan 410 Anatomical Textured implants. They were "installed" in 2011. I really like the implants so I determined to have some testing before jumping off the cliff. My MO ordered both a diagnostic ULS and an MRI. I went back to the radiologist who was 'spot on' for my original diagnosis.
I had already seen both the PS and the MO and both of them said they don't see any problems, but...
Today I had the ULS. This is a radiologist that I REALLY trust. He has seen a couple of ALCL instances out of a ton of people. I wanted an ULS to verify - and maybe an MRI follow up. In his opinion, he has seen either fluid or a mass if the patient has ALCL. He saw nothing abnormal on my films. My gut reaction is NO - I am not going to explant and I am not going to have any more surgery just now. As I suspected, my pain is likely from radiation after effects. When I pushed him for a 'survivorship plan', (my MO basically says do nothing) he suggested I come back every two years since I already had a recurrence 2 years after the original cancer & implants. He said many women come every year because they are worried and need reassurance or to have their hands held. Not a judgement, just a fact.
He said I can surely have the MRI if I want, but I am confident enough of his skills that I will pass on the MRI & extra radiation for now. And I will agree with my PS that I don't need to worry so much.
2/15/11 BMX-DCIS 2SNB clear-TEs; 9/15/11-410gummies; 3/20/13 recurrance-5.5cm,mets to lymphs, Stage IIIB IDC ER/PRneg,HER2+; TCH/Perjeta/Neulasta x6; ALND 9/24/13 1/18 nodes 4.5cm; AC chemo 10/30/13 x3; herceptin again; Rads Feb2014
OnTarget
MD
Joined:
May 2019
Posts:
248
Latest activity:
Dec 9, 2019
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Oct 9, 2019 07:09AM
OnTarget
wrote:
I had some crazy itching of my palms and soles of my feet with my chemo, and I think it is part of peripherial neuropathy, so essentially a nerve issue. At the same time, my nerve damaged areas around my foobs was itching too, including my armpit and back of my triceps where I'm numb.
I took Gabapentin and the symptoms went away. Not sure if that is the cure, but it helped me!
Diagnosed at 42, Oncotype score 16, ITC in one node- considered node negative
Dx
4/8/2019, ILC, Left, 3cm, Stage IB, Grade 2, 0/3 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Dx
4/23/2019, ILC, Right, <1cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 0/2 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
5/15/2019 Lymph node removal: Sentinel; Mastectomy: Left, Right; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement
Hormonal Therapy
6/13/2019 Zoladex (goserelin)
Chemotherapy
8/5/2019 Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Taxotere (docetaxel)
Surgery
11/5/2019 Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
Di2012
Seattle-Tacoma, WA, USA
Joined:
Dec 2012
Posts:
804
Latest activity:
Dec 10, 2019
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Nov 5, 2019 07:33PM
Di2012
wrote:
My implants are being removed NEXT WEEK! I saw two different plastic surgeons......both want to take them out, going to the PS at UW, he is also a professor.
No more implants but doc told me I would probably end up an A cups, (instead of a divits, like after my MX, & before reconstruction.)
My implants intact in in their capsules, will go to pathology, and then will be rerturned to me along with pictures.
Hopefully my pain will diminish and I will be able to use my arms again, instead of arms from elbow to hands ONLY.
NO MORE ITCHY, NO MORE SWELLING, no more implants!
Mentor 600cc HP gels moved towards armpits & exchanged 3/26/15 to Allergan410MF-580cc.
Surgery
12/21/2012 Mastectomy: Left, Right
Surgery
1/21/2013 Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement
Surgery
4/15/2013 Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
Surgery
7/15/2013 Reconstruction (left); Reconstruction (right)
Surgery
12/31/2013 Reconstruction (left): Fat grafting, Nipple reconstruction; Reconstruction (right): Fat grafting, Nipple reconstruction
Surgery
3/26/2015 Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
Surgery
7/14/2015 Reconstruction (left)
Dx
1cm
WC3
Joined:
Jun 2018
Posts:
1,032
Latest activity:
Dec 10, 2019
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Nov 6, 2019 11:50AM
WC3
wrote:
Yes. I get an unscratchable itch on the cancer side and the only thing that seems to help is putting the surgical bra back on.
Dx
2018, IDC, Left, 3cm, Grade 3, ER+/PR+, HER2+ (FISH)
Chemotherapy
6/1/2018 Carboplatin (Paraplatin), Taxotere (docetaxel)
Surgery
11/15/2018 Lymph node removal: Left, Sentinel; Mastectomy: Left, Right; Reconstruction (left): Tissue expander placement; Reconstruction (right): Tissue expander placement
Hormonal Therapy
Tamoxifen pills (Nolvadex, Apo-Tamox, Tamofen, Tamone)
Surgery
Reconstruction (left): Silicone implant; Reconstruction (right): Silicone implant
Targeted Therapy
Perjeta (pertuzumab)
Targeted Therapy
Herceptin (trastuzumab)