Hi all,
A year after my mastectomy/reconstruction and going through chemo and radio ending Nov 08 I have now got to have another op as my ‘boob’ has turned into a rock. Apparently its the result of the radiotherapy.Got to have new implant and scar tissue removed. Has anyone else experienced this?
hi just had my implant removed with a grade 4 capsular contracture and scar tissue had it done jan o8 …opted for LD flap and implant this time march 09 a bigger op but wasnt offered this op first time round but have new PS …5 weeks post op and looking good …PS didnt have rads just my body didnt want it there !
Maz x
Hi I’m exactly the same as you finished my rads in Nov 08 too Got my reconstruction April 08 and my surgeon said would be fine with radiotherapy because I had the flap of tissue from my back to protect the implant!!! Was in to see my surgeon last friday and was told he’d left and was seen by a very young Doctor who looked like he was hardly out of nappies!!! Doesn’t give much confidence!! Anyway I now have to wait to see a plastic surgeon who will be taking my implant and scar tissue out and put new implant in plus I hope lift my other breast so as they are a bit more equal!!! I’m hoping all will get done at the same time!! My appointment to see P surgeon is not until the 1st June so goodness knows when I will get surgery? Really dissapointed as was hoping to get back to work but looks like it won’t be until the end of this year now! That will be nearly 2years since DX Will it never end? Good luck to you hope it doesn’t take you so long let me know how you get on Kaye x
I’m looking for some advice please. I had a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction (LD) in January 2008. My ‘breast’ has always felt hard/heavy/sore/tender (despite not having any sensation) and I’ve always suspected that I have breast lymphoedema, although I have not discussed this with my consultant at the check ups (I’ve only seen the surgeon once since the surgery and only very briefly). The last few days, however, and it has become unbearably painful as well as more hard than it usually is and I suspect it may instead be capsular contracture - I realise, too, though, that I may very well just be paranoid - how should I know what it should expect to feel like - perhaps it is not hard at all - but I do know that it is very painful.
I am due to see the surgeon in the afternoon on the 24th June for a check up following the nipple reconstruction but I am also seeing the nurse on the same day for the tattoo in the morning. My questions is, should I postpone the tattooing until after I have had a chance to speak to the surgeon or should I just go ahead with the tattoo and hope that, if it is capsular contraction, that it won’t effect any further surgery that I might need, i.e. that I won’t have to go through the process of having my breast tattooed again? I have also read that CC can potentially be treated with accolate and I wondered if anyone had any experience of this drug at all?
A further complication is that I have recently moved and was intending to change hospitals (from Coventry to London) and I don’t know whether I should just wait until I transfer to a local hospital before raising my worries - as much as I have been satisfied with the treatment that I have had - the tumours were both removed - the nurses always managed to cannulate my good side to administer the chemo - etc, etc, etc - I still have some reservations.
Any advice that anyone may be able to give would be much appreciated.
Naz
Hi Naz,
While you’re waiting for your fellow forum users to reply to you question, Please do also remember that BCC’s confidential helpline is here for you, offering support and information.
Calls to the helpline are free, lines open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturday 9am - 2pm, telephone 0808 800 6000.
Kind regards,
Kate, BCC Facilitator
Hi Naz Saw your blog , thinking of you. I think i would try to get to surgeon earlier or give Caro a ring.
Lots of love Bobbiex
Thank you, Kate, Bobbie. I don’t know what has prompted it - I did go swimming for the first time in a long time last week but I had thought that this would help relieve any discomfort so I’m not sure I can put it down to that. I will definitely raise it, though, at my next appointment later on this month and I may indeed give the helpline a ring beforehand. Thank you again.
Naz
P.S. Bobbie, I hope you are well? x
Hi Naz , Yes I am doing quite well, thank you. Energy slowly beginning to pick up. Have appt with Mr P Mon 15th so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Mags has finally got a Macmillan nurse to visit, she is getting a lot of pain but being very brave.
Love Bobbiex
Glad to hear that you are doing alright and that your energy is slowly improving. I’ve been struggling a bit lately - very tearful - for all sorts of reasons - and the last few days my body has felt quite tired - I think it may have something to do with having to get up to go to work after having a week off. In fact, I am still finding work exhausting when I would have hoped to have shaken off any post-chemo fatigue by now. Still, all in good time, hopefully…
I spoke to Maggie on the telephone a couple of days ago - she said that she had seen the nurse the day before (that Julie had arranged for the nurse to call). It is all so upsetting… Maggie had said that she wouldn’t have told me - but I explained that I would have been upset to have heard afterwards so that I was ‘pleased’ that I did know…
Keep in touch and look after yourself, lots of love, Naz