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jaykay · 12-29-2013, 02:32 PM

Hi Julie,

I also had a double mx but did nipple sparing with tissue expanders. My "good" left breast had a lumpectomy and radiation about 13 years ago and adapted to the expanders fine. The new cancer breast developed capsular contraction - heavy duty scar tissue around the expander and started moving up even before radiation. I wore bras the entire time because I was so uneven (coobie with pads).

Had my exchange surgery a little over 2 months ago. After 2 weeks, the "good" breast kind of shifted. I have a very boney upper chest and according to the ps, this is not an unusual happening. Right breast is doing fine but I am massaging it daily to try to keep the scar tissue to a minimum. The ps did warn me that the effects of radiation are ongoing.

I will have a little bit of lipo for the shifted breast to try to fill in the "dent". I was also told that the fat may be re-absorbed but I'll see what happens. I go without a bra when I can wear layers and am not going anyplace. But I've always worn a bra and still do the majority of the time. Major plus is no underwire :-). The boyfriend says they are looking good, and compared to the expanders, they do.

Hope you had a great holiday meeting the family and a happy and especially healthy New Year!

Janis

12-29-2013, 02:32 PM	#3
jaykay Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 646	Re: Mismatched reconstruction Hi Julie, I also had a double mx but did nipple sparing with tissue expanders. My "good" left breast had a lumpectomy and radiation about 13 years ago and adapted to the expanders fine. The new cancer breast developed capsular contraction - heavy duty scar tissue around the expander and started moving up even before radiation. I wore bras the entire time because I was so uneven (coobie with pads). Had my exchange surgery a little over 2 months ago. After 2 weeks, the "good" breast kind of shifted. I have a very boney upper chest and according to the ps, this is not an unusual happening. Right breast is doing fine but I am massaging it daily to try to keep the scar tissue to a minimum. The ps did warn me that the effects of radiation are ongoing. I will have a little bit of lipo for the shifted breast to try to fill in the "dent". I was also told that the fat may be re-absorbed but I'll see what happens. I go without a bra when I can wear layers and am not going anyplace. But I've always worn a bra and still do the majority of the time. Major plus is no underwire :-). The boyfriend says they are looking good, and compared to the expanders, they do. Hope you had a great holiday meeting the family and a happy and especially healthy New Year! Janis __________________ March, 2000: 48, Post menopausal (5 yrs HRT) Left breast, IDC 3mm/DCIS 1.6cm, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, mod differentiated, MIB low, lumpectomy, node neg via SNB, rads=33 Stage 1a June, 2000: Tamox 4.5 years,Femara for 5 years (end in Jan. 2010) Sept, 2012: 61, Via mamm, ultrasound, biopsy, right breast, 2.3cm tumor, ER+/PR-/Her2+++, poorly diff, KI67 60-70% BRCA 1 and 2 negative October, 2012: Bi Mast with tissue expanders, port placement Final Path: IDC 2.8cm, DCIS, 1/4 sentinal nodes positive (@#$%). Stage IIB Nov 29, 2012: Begin TCH/6x/every 3 wks, H for 1 year/every 3 weeks. March 14, 2013: Finished chemo April 9, 2013: Begin radiation 28x May 22, 2013: Finished rads June 1st, 2013: Started Aromasin for 5 yrs. July 15, 2013: Switched to Letrozole (Femara). Probably for the rest of my life October 16, 2013: Exchange surgery October 31, 2013: Finished Herceptin December 5, 2013: Port removed Glad this year is over!