Hi I am new posting to this site but have read lots of the comments on the discussion forums which have given me much needed support over the last year and a half Thankyou all! The reason I am posting is because my main support went through breast cancer just before me and I don’t think I’d have managed to get through it without her Sadly she died with secondary brain cancer in February and I miss her terribly ):
I was diagnosed with breast cancer on xmas eve 2007 Big shock none in family! Had lumpectomy in Feb 08 then mastectomy and recon in April (with LD Flap and implant) as margins were’t clear - no more cancer so didn’t actually need recon. Chemo followed 3 Fec 3 Tax then 4 weeks of radiotherapy which my consultant said should not affect implant? Went back in to see my surgeon on friday expecting to get an appointment to get otherside lifted and reduced to be told my surgeon had LEFT and that a capsule had formed round implant causing all the pain and tightness from back round to breast and that probably need to have it removed and another put in!! Had problems with skin healing last time so they said might have to wait!I would just like to ask if anybody else has had this problem and how their treatment went? I’ve had so many things gone wrong so far (won’t go into details would be writing a book)that any suggestions would be a great help thankyou X
hi Kaye
Sorry you have this trouble on top of everything else and are now facing more surgery. Just wanted to say that I wish you all the best. I don’t think that clearing the scar tissue and changing the implant is as big a job as getting the ld flap “installed” though obviously you would prefer not to have to undergo more surgery, so hopefully you will make a quicker recovery. I don’t have any answers but I do have a 6 month old rock hard ld flap and implant boob. I have been told mine will soften eventually and was told (6 months on) that regular massage in the early days can help prevent the problem…
Best wishes
Jane
Hi Jane thanks for replying I’m hoping its not such a big op but need my other side lifted and reduced at the same time would be good and was told I’d get that done but that was before my surgeon left! Just want to get back to “normal” again! Starting work would be so great oh well! one of these days! Hope yours begins to soften I’ve been rubbing bio-oil in twice a day since my radio finished in November and I definately feel my skins a lot softer and managed to get rid of some scar tissue under my arm from my node clearance so hope it helps you. Look forward to hearing from anybody who’s been through it? Best wishes to all x
Hi kaye
My story is very similar to yours. Diagnosed 19th Dec 2007 had lumpectomy then further surgery to tumour cavity then a masectomy and LD flap reconstruction! Had 4 fec 4 tax and 5 weeks radiotherapy which left me with a rock hard reconstruction. However yesterday I underwent surgery to remove old implant and replace with permanent one also the surgeon cut through hardned fibrous tissue. Although I feel very sore today I can already tell its sooo much softer!! Well worth having done even my back feels less tight! Hope this helps xx
Hi Julieo Thankyou very much for your comments I was so glad to hear from you its really given me hope that it will all work out! Hope your recovery is really quick and you feel better soon Please keep in touch Kaye x
Hi Julieo
Just wondering how you are recovering after your op? Love to hear how your getting on as mine will be soon I hope!
Wishing you well Kaye x
Hi Kaye
I’m recovering well thanks, just feel a little tender still but I’m so pleased with the result. I am now much more evenly matched and feels so much more comfortable!! Have follow up appointment to see surgeon on 14th May. So all good really Kaye. Do let me know when you have a date hope it will be soon.
Love Julie x
Hi Julieo
Really glad to hear you are doing so well I’m soooo pleased for you!Hope all goes well for you on the 14th May Wish I was as far on as you but it WILL come!!! I’ll let you know as soon as they let me know fingers crossed it’s soon!! Keep well Kaye xx
Hi All,
Dont want to concern you, however… I had mastectomy with LD implant in June 07. Was mega pleased with the cosmetic result and had no probs with it. Having already had 4 x FEC and 4 X Taxotere prior to the reconstruction, I had 5 weeks of rads after and the implant went rock hard! I didnt really notice it if I’m honest- it didnt hurt and looked fantastic, however, I had my 2nd mastectomy in May last year (I have the dodgy gene so this was a preventitive measure)and immediately you could notice the difference between the two implants. The implant on the non cancer side was pliable, soft and could be moved around whereas the implant on the cancer side was rock hard and stuck like a boulder on my chest. I had a “capsulotomy” in December last year and when I woke up from the op (which was very simple) it was lovely and soft! Unfortunately it has hardened up and “stuck” again and is once more “boulder” like only 4-5 months down the line.
I sort of think I may be stuck with this as I have had enough surgery to last a lifetime and currently they are still looking fab- even if they dont feel great.
I hasten to add that I get no pain or discomfort from it either.
Hope this helps- dont want to depress anyone, but thought I would add my experience .
Best Wishes to all
Katy
Hi Lilio
Thanks for your input Lilio Sorry to hear you’ve been through so much! Doesn’t sound so good that your implants gone hard again but if its not painfull suppose its not sooo bad! Its really strange that your other boob is softer wonder why? Do they give you any explanation?
Mine is giving me a lot of pain! I am still on tramadol plus other painkillers now 13 months after surgery so I’ll have to try although like you I’m fed up with surgery too! Just soo want to be back to “normal”!!! No tablets would be wonderfull!!!
Keep well Kaye x
Hi all
I had mastectomy withLD reconstruction in June 2007. Surgeon put in tissue expander - I think because I was to have radiotherapy. My boob is rock hard and tender with pain from my back to breast.
The surgeon saw me for the first time since July 2007 (!) this month and said I have capsulitis, which sounds the same as you. I have never been without pain from it but it has got easier.
I am due to go into hospital on Friday and have the tissue expander out and implant put in. I can’t wait - especially if its going to be softer. I did ask about having the other one lifted but I have to wait until at least 3 months to let this one settle so he can match it up.
I’ll let you know how I get on
Love Liz xx
Hi Kaye,
The only explanation I got for the hardness was due to the radiotherapy. I have no doubts that if i mentioned it to my surgeon- he would try to remedy it for me, but having had 5 general anesthetics in the last eighteen months, I have had to question to myself when is enough enough!? I have a fab cosmetic result and I almost feel “greedy” and that I should be grateful for what I have been left with- which,is a body that is currently (touch wood) cancer free! Imperfect breasts should really be the least of my worries and I really try to keep reminding myself of that- although its very hard as I am, by nature very vain- lol! x
If I was in pain, then maybe I would reconsider, but apart from the odd “shooting” pain which lasts seconds every now and then, it doesn’t bother me. I have kept the expanders that were originally put in and they just removed the ports.
Liz- Good luck with your op and will keep my fingers crossed for you.
best wishes all
Katyx
Hi All
That is awful that you havn’t been seen since 2007!!! I thought everybody was supposed to be seen regularily? I give up!!!
Good luck with your op on friday Liz hope it all goes well for you I’ll wait to hear from you soon!!
Don’t know why they don’t give us better explanations Katie but as you said cancer free is brilliant fingers crossed for us all!!
At least we’ve got two boobs even though they’re lopsided - should be happy for small mercies!!! Ha Ha!!
Speak soon
Love Kaye x
Hi - well I had my op last Friday and out on Sunday.
The pain I have at the moment is about the same as when I had the reconstruction but I know it will get better. I understood that he would take the “dog ear” off my back and then cut me under my boob, take the expander etc out and then put the implant in. My daughter looked at the surgery yesterday and it seems that he has opened me up from the scar on my back and carried it around to the front and has used that opening. I had 2 drains in which came from under my boob. I can only think he has done it like that because I had radiotherapy and maybe the skin is now thinner.
I have a clinic appointment in 3 weeks and shall ask then.
The boob is a nicer shape and does not sit like a dumpliing on my chest. I think I am a bit swollen at the mo and the swelling under my arm, which I have had since the reconstruction and is the muscle threaded through, seems to be bigger but it could be fluid or swelling.
I am not sure I will bother with having the other lifted as have had enough of hospitals !
Hope you are all okay
Liz xxx
Hi Liz
Sorry never noticed your reply! How are you feeling now after your op? Hope its still all good?
Julieo how are you feeling now you’ve had time to settle down?
I’m still waiting for my appointment!!!
Best wishes to you all
Kaye xx
Hi Kaye
I’m doing really well thanks have returned to work and apart from feeling a little tender on my ribs I feel pretty much back to normal. Will be seeing consultant on Thursday so will let you know how I get on.
Any news yet for your surgery?
Take care Julie xx
Hi Julie
Glad to hear you’re getting on fine and back to work already!
Still waiting! Have an appointment to see plastic surgeon on first of June so will just have to be patient 
Good luck with your appointment tomorrow! Hope the waiting time isn’t tooo long!
Let me know how you get on and how your breast is feeling!
Take care
Kaye xx
Hi Kaye
Appointment went well yesterday although my surgeon does think that it could look better…in his words I still have one apple and one pear!!! but he did agree it felt much softer! He asked me if I was happy with the result and I am, when I have a bra on they look very even and it feels so much better, not sure I keep wanting surgery just for cosmetic reasons!! He’s going to see me again in 2 months.
Best wishes, keep in touch
Julie x
Hi Julie
Glad your appointment went well Think that’s really funny apple and pear! Made me really laugh!!! Mine are more like a melon and an apple at the moment!!!
Was wondering did your reconstruction go lumpy as well as hard? My breast has gone really lumpy and a bit tender on the top and under my arm? I’ve been massaging it with bio-oil for months now but its only the last month it seems to be separating under the skin - if that makes sense? Maybe its scar tissue? Strange!! or what??
Can anyone enlighten me?
How are you doing Liz?
Hope you keep improving Julie - keep in touch please!
Keep smiling
Love to all Kaye xx
Hi - I am 2 weeks plus after my op. I am very pleased with the shape of my boob - it’s now boob shaped instead of a dumpling sat on my chest.
But with regards to the extra flesh, which they call “dog ear” on my back. For some reason - and I hope to find out why next week when I see the surgeon - I now have a cut from where my original scar finished, right round the front to just under my boob. The end of this scar is creased and I now have a lump at the front !
My reason for using the back muscle was that I didn’t want any scar on the front of my body. It is still very tender and I very, very tight. I suppose there wasn’t much flesh left after the first op. I am hoping that when (and if) I lose the weight I put on with chemo this will alleviate some of the tightness.
I can only think that they removed the tissue expander through this cut. I also have about 1 -2 inch cut right in the crease under my boob which I think he may have taken the port out. I’ll let you know when I know !!!
Love to you all xx