Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi, I had a skin-sparing mastectomy in Jan 08, with immediate implant, and then had 25 rads. It all looked good until this time last year when I started to feel a bit of pain occassionaly. Then I started to look a bit lop-sided. PS confirmed the implant was capsulating, and it continued to tighten. I now have one small rock hard boob and have to be careful how I sleep at night as that is when I can get the pain. We tried lipofil this Jan gone, but it didn't work, and in fact I still have two sore areas just above each hip bone where they took the fat from. It was so painful I will not go back to try that again. My only other choice I have been given is a tram flap, but I really don't feel like I want more surgery, especially something so major. Right now, as long as the implant isn't causing any heath risk, I would rather carry on and have been using a small prosthesis in my bra to balance the look. Has anyone else had any experience with capsulation? And any other options that have been offered? Thanks. ... View more

Hi all, just popping back in with a quick question. I was DX July 07, triple neg, had chemo/mx with implant/rads. So this summer it will have been 5 years since I was diagnosed. I did all the usual reading and research I could, and know that after a while, the risk of secondaries is reduced to such a low level, that you can relax a little.... what I want to know is when does the clock start ticking? From DX? MX? End of treatment? And any changes or further info that I have missed in the last few years? From what I recall, 5 years puts you in the 'safe' zone, and 8 years you're considered 'cured', with no reported cases of secondaries after this length of time. Please correct me/update me as needed!! ... View more

Hi, I posted recently about my implant from 2008 that had capsulated. I had been offered 'lipomodelling' to help, and was told they would take fat from my belly and inject around the implant. This sounded like a good option, as the only other alternative I was offered was a full recon, which I didn't want, as I've only just started getting fit again, and didn't want any more invasive surgery. So I went in yesterday. While I was in the prep room just before I was anethsetised, the surgeeon (who did the original mastectomy, and who I really rated) came out to see me and mark me up for the procedure. She said that as there was a chance of having to do a recon down the line, she wasn't happy in using fat from the centre of my belly, and would take it from either side. I didn't really get chancr to think about that... I was marked up, and in I went. I came round in the recovery room, felt fine, but then they couldn't find a bed for me, so was there 3 hours - mis-communication with the ward apparently, ward sister was waiting for the call to say I was ready, recovery room was witing for her to call to confirm the bed was free. Once delivered to the ward, I couldn't see my dressinggown/slippers, or my bag. I asked, they said they'd check. An hour later I asked again, oh they'd check. I wanted to go to the toilet, but it was visiting time, and ward was full, and only had my gaping-backed gown, and surgical socks.... so I waited. And waited. Eventually visitors left I I went to the toilet, when I got back my stuff had finally arrived. Then surgeon's asst arrived, said it had all gone well but they hadn't been able to take as much fat as they'd have liked. As I had quite a belly, I was very surprised by this!!! I was a bit concerned by the comment..... but she said I could go home as long as I had my anti-biotics, which I hadn't. The ward hadn't requested them and now the pharmacy was shut, so they told me I'd have to stay in. Then said it was ok to go as long as someone could collect them from the ward first thing in the morning. We were to call first to make sure they were there. Well, we've called 3 times already, and still waiting, and ow they're saying call after lunch. Also, when I came round, part of my tongue was numb. They said that would be fine, it would go back to normal.... and it hasn't. The right side of the end of my tounge, the bit you'd use to 'sense' things with, it totally dead. So I went home and thought well, at least it will be all worth it - looked in the mirror and cried. After all that hassle, it really doesn't look or feel any different! I am still seriously lop-sided. I am sat here this morning, in pain, with a still deformed breast and just wish I hadn't bothered, I feel totally and completely gutted. 😞 ... View more

Hi. I had a skin sparing mastectomy with implant about 4 years ago, and was really happy with the outcome. Because no skin was removed I had a normal implant, not an expander. Once everything settled down, it looked really good, and I was totally happy. I then had 25 rads sessions, all was still ok. Earlier last year I started to get some pain when sleeping on a certain side at night, like the implant had stuck to my chest wall, and a ripping feeling when I moved. Also the implant looked smaller, and harder, and then I noticed it had changed shape, as I could see the scar when standing head-on looking in the mirror, which I couldn't do before. I went in to see my surgeon, she confirmd the implant had 'casulated' due to the rads, which was a known risk, but I never asked what that actually meant. Can anyone explain?? Thanks! ... View more

I've just emailed a charity as yesterday I thought I'd donated the contents of my purse to them, only to find out the collectors only hand over MINIMUM 10% of the donation! There were a couple of guys in our shopping centre, all decked out in the teeshirts with banners and a stand etc... all looked very official. They were selling small packets of sweets for £2, and there was nothing obvious to indicate that they weren't official charity people, or that anything less than 100% of the donations would be used for the purpose it was donated for! It wasn't until I was home and looked at the packet that I saw the note in small print about the 10% going to the charity. I would have not bothered, and sent a donation instead if I'd have known..... I actually feel conned. Honestly, these sweets were just a small handful of dolly mixtures, must have cost pennies, and if they had a good day with generous people, these two could make a killing. In future I will stick with my on-line donations and will never again donate to random strangers, however 'official' they seem! ... View more