I had a single mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with an expander 18 month ago. Following radiotherapy treatment I had the expander replaced with a permanent implant. All seemed well until a couple of months later when I started leaking from my mastectomy scar and then from a second auxiliary wound. Several months of clinic visits and three further procedures to try and close the wounds I’m now having the implant removed completely tomorrow to let my body heal.
I wonder if anyone else has had an experience like this and what the outcome was.
I’m pretty gutted that it’s come to this but obviously just glad the cancer has gone.
So sorry to read your post, I was in the same place as you, after a mastectomy on the right side, with a reconstruction left hospital the next morning. A week later was not feeling good the upshot was leaking with a very bad infection had IV antibiotics for 4 days, unfortunately couldn’t save the implant had surgery to remove and washout.
I found this really quite upsetting, and had to wait 6 months before my consultant would consider another reconstruction the area needed to heal. However all went well in the end.
I hope this helps, please let us know how you are getting on, wishing you well going forward, chat with your Breast Cancer team for other options, maybe a plastic surgeon would benefit you.
I’m truly sorry to hear that you didn’t get the outcome you wanted. If you’d like to speak to one of our nurses they are always here if you want to talk things through 0808 800 6000. Sending our love
I’m so sorry you had to go through this - I went through something very similar.
I had a single mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction at the end of June. It didn’t heal right from the beginning, to start with it blistered at the scar site. They took me back in for Debridement a month later, and this time the scar site healed, but then 3 weeks later a lot of small wounds opened up underneath it. All this time I was waiting for radiotherapy so the decision was made to remove the implant. I have now finished radiotherapy and in May I will see a plastic surgeon to see if I can have a tissue transfer recon (diep or TUG). They have already told me the earliest I’ll be able to have it is a year after the end of radiotherapy.
It’s such a lot to deal with - I’m 43 with no risk factors, had no infection at all, so they just don’t know why it happened.
But, I’m on the other side of it now, and honestly I am feeling so much better. I don’t think I fully realised how dreadful I was feeling, not least the psychological effects of months of open wounds, discomfort and uncertainty.
It’s so much to deal with alongside the trauma of a cancer diagnosis but here I am flat on one side and it isn’t half as bad as I thought it would be!
Hve they spoken about your other reconstruction options once you have healed?
Thanks for the replies. @Rach09 it does sound very similar to what happened to you and yes I’ve been told that the only real option is a tissue reconstruction by a plastic surgeon in a year or so time, and I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.
Had my surgery yesterday and already feel more comfortable with the implant out, like you say the months of open wounds has been mentally and emotionally exhausting.
I’m not as upset at the prospect of being flat a I though I would.
Your responses have given my a lot of comfort thank you x
