Hello
Just wondering if anyone’s had recon after lymph clearance and radiation to the armpit? What happens to the skin, will it affect the skin on the chest, and should the recon be done before or after radiation?
It’s been a month since having mx and each day I feel more and more mutilated, especially since finding out there was no cancer in the breast anyway. I’d just really like to be able to spend a day without wondering if I have a false boob sticking out of my belly/armpit/neckline. I’m constantly wriggling my shoulders and touching my chest.
Any advice appreciated. thanks. xxx Jane
Hi Jane,
I can’t really offer any advice but can tell you that my surgeon recommended having my recon before the radiotherapy - but I had opted for immediate recon using my own tissue. Perhaps if I had been having delayed recon or using implant his advice would have been different.
I had DIEP flap, that would be a huge decision to make with a 2 year old and a new baby though, it is a pretty big operation.
Best wishes,
Jacqui
Hi Jane
I’ve just completed a delayed reconstruction 4 years after my mastectomy, axilliary clearance, chemo and radiotherapy. I chose to delay it as I also found out I had a form of leukaemia and had enough to deal with at the time.
Two and a half years later I decided to take the plunge. The approach my surgeon took was first to improve the quality of the skin which had become very thin and tight after radiotherapy. This was done by a series of autologous fat transplants to the affected site followed by insertion of an expander implant 3 weeks ago. The expanded implant looks good but the port is very uncomfortable and I hope to eventually have it removed.
Hope this is helpful. Your welcome to ask more detailed questions is this approach is of some interest.
Best wishes. Tricia