I wondered if anyone out there still suffered with a swollen breast so long after radiotherapy. I certainly had lyphodema during and just after treatment but my affected breast is still considerable bigger (I am a C cup on one side and an A cup on the other - not a good look) and the breast sags alarmingly. I saw my doctors recently and both oncologist and surgeon said this was not now going to change.
The surgeon suggested that plastic surgery might be the only option reducing the size of the affected breast back to match the unaffected breast. I do have medical insurance so it is possible we could get this done. Has anyone out there had anything similar.
I know it sounds petty and I am really glad to be alive 18 months following diagnosis but I feel a freak - I have to put in a fillet on the unaffected side and I end up with these two large breasts which then makes me feel uncomfortable.
I would welcome any comments - has anyone out there gone the plastic surgery route?
Yes I still had a swollen breast a year on after radiotherapy and this was visibly detectable because I was small breasted in the first place. I just wore blouses over T shirts rather than tight fitting tops as plastic surgery was never discussed. Please be vigilant though. My breast was so firm (Rather like in my teens!) I did not feel a lump that had grown on the scar line until it was 22mm. I am OK though I had a mastectomy 7 weeks ago so can’t tell you how long the breast may stay swollen.
I hope this message didn’t scare you but I guess a recurrence is probably in the back of your mind anyway.
You say you had lymphoedema. Are you sure it has all gone? My surgery (WLE) was last December, followed by chemo and I finished rads at the end of June. My affected breast is still bigger than the other one because of lymphoedema - mine are sizes B and C. I’m being referred to a lymphoedema specialist for a course of MLD - Manual Lymphatic Drainage. I believe that breast lymphoedema can gradually get better by itself also over a couple of years. There is a thread somewhere else on this board called something like - ‘one breast bigger than the other’ where someone has written that her breast lymphoedema gradually got better without any intervention.
I was told that it can take anything from a few months to a few years for breasts to settle down. I finished rads in September and one breast is bigger than the other - towards the end of the day it increases in size - but it is not so visible as my breasts were always small anyway - bras and tops are uncomfortable and I have to interchange them.
My doctor told me that the NHS may be able to help me with plastic surgery if I felt I needed it. - I am sure they would do their best to help anyone look and feel better under these circumstances. I believe its just about putting your case forward - Do you have an understanding GP who would be able to help?
Many thanks to you all for you comments - both oncologist and surgeon clearly do not think this is lyphodema. Was awake last night thinking what a silly woman I am - I am still alive - but I have a wardrobe full of beautiful tops, in particular summer ones, and I now can’t wear them - even the husband who is so so supportive says its a no-go. We are off on a 6 weeks holiday to Aus next year and I so wanted to be back to my pre-cancer shape and clearly that is not going to happen.
Might take you suggestion Caroline and go to see my GP - he is also great - and see what he says - I am fairly sure the insurance company will refuse to pay for anything else, I have already cost them a fortune.
My breast took about three or four years to go down in size following surgery. I’m also small breasted and I did’t like the look. I massaged my breast twice a day for six months using aqueous cream after this was suggested by one consultant. Can’t say it made a miraculous difference but I quite enjoyed it.
I have definitely seen an improvement but quite honestly my breasts looked better before I had a quarter of one of them removed so it will never be the same as it was.