[JillaryJill]

Hi Nora,

As you can see from my signature my diagnosis is similar. I was treated at a large teaching hospital in Chicago. My primary onc and my radiation onc said radiation was not an option for me. My onc has been at the forefront of Her2 treatment and was involved in the early clinical trials of Herceptin. She said you need to give yourself the best chance at a cure in the beginning. I had tissue expanders placed during the time of my mastectomy. I had the saline drained to a low level prior to radiation. 3 weeks ago I had the expanders out and my silicone implants placed. My plastic surgeon recommended I wait at least 4 months after radiation for my skin to heal which I did. I have fair skin, freckles with an Irish/German complexion. My cancer side drained much more than my non cancer side, and also has more post surgical swelling but I did not need the tram flap since my skin was in good shape. My plastic surgeon did do some fat transfer from my stomach to round out the edges around the implants. My stomach was very bruised and swollen for 2 weeks. My plastic surgeon explained since I had a mastectomy there was no breast tissue remaining, so the fat transfer is necessary to round things out. He also placed Alloderm at the top of my breast and the bottom. I am happy with the results and the pain was minimal.