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03-08-2010, 12:59 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Kensington, CT
Posts: 394
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Implant - What to choose?
I am getting close to putting in a permanent implant and was looking for advice. My surgeon leans toward silicone; says they are very real looking. Someone I know choose silicone and was very unhappy because she said her stomach stuck farther than her boob. She's a size 2 at best and very trim. She went back and swaped them out for saline and is happier. There's pros/cons to both and am looking for some real world feedback that anyone may be willing to share.
Thank you,
Kris...
__________________
06/08/09 - 55, IDC, IIIA, ER+/PR-/HER+++
Nottingham 6/9 - Grade 2 5.2cm, several nodes
06/23/09 - Neoadjuvant - TCH Herceptin til June
10/07/09 - Finished Chemo
10/27/09 - Mastectomy RB
Path Report: RB No residual tumor pCR,
2 of 15 pos - .5mm largest micromets
12/18/09 - Radiation started (28)
02/05/10 - Finished Radiation
01/11/10 - Started Femara
06/22/10 - Finished Herceptin.. My son's 22nd BD. Hope it's a sign! Hoping for the best.
11/15/10 - Started Walter Reed BC Vaccine trial at
1/04/11 - Sibley Mem. Had to withdraw due to met
01/23/11 - Stage IV - Brain Met 1.6cm 1.7cm
02/03/11 - Gamma Knife (2 fracts to minmize necrosis)
03/01/11 - Gamma Knife
6/11 - Necrosis
7/11 - Necrosis stopped & Tumor progression
8/11 = Now think it's really necrosis
9/11 - Avastin every two weeks -- It's working!! Necrosis is shrinking.
12/11 - Necrosis gone AVASTIN worked.
12/11 - Bone &CT found
Oct '10 - Ran Hartford 1/2 Marathon to Thank Dr. Slamon for Herceptin!
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03-08-2010, 01:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 183
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
Hi Kris,
I was having a hard time deciding too!! I choose saline so if there was ever a leak, it would not leak a foreign substance. With clothes on, no one knows that my left breast is not real.
My stomach sticks out alot more too, but it is because I am now bigger in the stomach than on top!! I also had a reduction.
Good luck with whichever you choose!! I think you will be happy with whatever you decide.
__________________
Anita
er, pr-, Her2+++
Stage 2b, grade 3
negative nodes
4 rounds AC
3 months of weekly taxol
1 yr of Herceptin
Finish Herceptin May 2007
35 rounds of Radiation
Reconstruction completed Dec 2007
Implant replaced due to infection Mar 2008
4 Years NED!!!
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03-08-2010, 04:10 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 508
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
Hi Kris. I had my reconstruction twenty five years ago, and used a saline filled implant. I really kind of expected to have to have it replaced by now, but so far, it's been fine. I chose saline because of the possibility of leakage----and did have an acquaintance have her implant rupture. Hers was also saline and made no particular problem. She had it swapped in a one day surgery. Wishing you the very best as you make your choice.
Barb A.
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03-08-2010, 06:17 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Boston, NH
Posts: 275
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
I am very small breasted and both doctors told me saline was a better choice. I think they were right. I am very happy with the decision and I got them in, in August 2009. Whatever you decide just make sure you know all the facts before hand and stick with it!
Good luck!
__________________
-Sarah-
Jan '07 felt lump (PCP "thought" it was a cyst)
Nov '07 "bloody nipple discharge" (OB-GYN "thought" I had fibrocystic breasts and told me to take 400 IU's of Vitamin E)
Note: Mother was dx w/BC in 2004 (ER/PR+ & HER2+) & mets to brain April 2007 (she passed away June 17, 2008)
2/1/08: Biopsy Dx: DCIS (age 34)
2/22/08: Surgery R-side Mast
2/28/08: 1st Path Rpt Dx: IDC 1.8cm tumor & DCIS 2.1cm
2nd Path Rep DFCI - IDC (0.9cm) & DCIS (2.1cm)
Stage 1b/Gr 3; ER+(5%), PR+(2%), HER-2+++
5/5 nodes NEG; Clear Margins
Chemo: AC 4 rnds (1st one 3/31/08) finished 6/2/08
TH (Taxol/Hercepin) 12 weeks (1st one 6/25/08) finished 9/8/08
Herceptin 9 mos (every 3 weeks) finished 6/8/09
BRCA 1/2 NEG
Bio: Age 39, married to James 1999, 2 boys 12 & 10 yo
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03-08-2010, 07:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 185
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
Kris...
I had a single mastectomy and went with the saline implant based upon my plastic surgeon's advise. He said he could better match the other breast with a saline because the amount of saline in it can be adjusted in smaller increments than the silicone. He said that had I had a double, he would have recommended the silicone. Crazy thing is my body rejected the saline (he thinks a drain tube when they swapped out the expander with the implant may have helped), so on the 18th, I'm going back in to swap the saline with the silicone. He's putting a drain tube in this time, so I hope that does the trick!! You might want to talk to your dr about that (the need for a drain tube). My understanding is that it isn't normally needed when the implant goes in, but I had it for five weeks when I had my mastectomy, so depending on how your body handled fluid may be a deciding factor.
Good luck!
__________________
Hayley
Oklahoma
3/35/2009 - Diagnosed, age 39
5/7/09 - Mastectomy and reconstruction started. Two tumors found. Tumors were side by side. DCIS tumor was 2.8 cm, ER-, PR-, grade 2. Invasive tumor was 1.1 cm, poorly differentiated, grade 3, ER+90%, PR+95%, HER2+3. Thankfully, no node involvement.
5/29/09 - Second surgery resulting from difficulty healing from mastectomy.
6/2/09 - Began Herceptin treatments
6/23/09 - Began Taxotere and Carboplatin treatments along with Herception every 3 weeks.
10/06/09 - Completed Taxotere and Carboplatin - Yeah!!!
10/27/2009 - Herceptin maintenance and began Femara
12/10/2009 - 2nd stage reconstruction surgery
2/2010 - Body rejected saline implant
3/18/2010 - Second stage reconstruction using silicone implant
5/4/10 - Completed Herceptin - YEE-HAA!
May '10 - Body rejects silicone implant...taking a break.
11/29/10 - Hysterectomy
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03-09-2010, 04:50 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Kensington, CT
Posts: 394
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
Thank you all for sharing. I now think I'm leaning toward the saline. Hearing real stories really helps.
Note to Hayley: My husband (Conn. native) is a die hard Michigan fan. He loves your handle name..
Kris...
__________________
06/08/09 - 55, IDC, IIIA, ER+/PR-/HER+++
Nottingham 6/9 - Grade 2 5.2cm, several nodes
06/23/09 - Neoadjuvant - TCH Herceptin til June
10/07/09 - Finished Chemo
10/27/09 - Mastectomy RB
Path Report: RB No residual tumor pCR,
2 of 15 pos - .5mm largest micromets
12/18/09 - Radiation started (28)
02/05/10 - Finished Radiation
01/11/10 - Started Femara
06/22/10 - Finished Herceptin.. My son's 22nd BD. Hope it's a sign! Hoping for the best.
11/15/10 - Started Walter Reed BC Vaccine trial at
1/04/11 - Sibley Mem. Had to withdraw due to met
01/23/11 - Stage IV - Brain Met 1.6cm 1.7cm
02/03/11 - Gamma Knife (2 fracts to minmize necrosis)
03/01/11 - Gamma Knife
6/11 - Necrosis
7/11 - Necrosis stopped & Tumor progression
8/11 = Now think it's really necrosis
9/11 - Avastin every two weeks -- It's working!! Necrosis is shrinking.
12/11 - Necrosis gone AVASTIN worked.
12/11 - Bone &CT found
Oct '10 - Ran Hartford 1/2 Marathon to Thank Dr. Slamon for Herceptin!
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03-09-2010, 07:27 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 185
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
Kris...I was born and raised in Michigan, but went to school at the University of Oklahoma (didn't have my area of study at U of M). You can take the girl out of Michigan, but you can't take the Wolverine out of the girl!! I bleed BLUE!!!
Good luck and keep us posted!
__________________
Hayley
Oklahoma
3/35/2009 - Diagnosed, age 39
5/7/09 - Mastectomy and reconstruction started. Two tumors found. Tumors were side by side. DCIS tumor was 2.8 cm, ER-, PR-, grade 2. Invasive tumor was 1.1 cm, poorly differentiated, grade 3, ER+90%, PR+95%, HER2+3. Thankfully, no node involvement.
5/29/09 - Second surgery resulting from difficulty healing from mastectomy.
6/2/09 - Began Herceptin treatments
6/23/09 - Began Taxotere and Carboplatin treatments along with Herception every 3 weeks.
10/06/09 - Completed Taxotere and Carboplatin - Yeah!!!
10/27/2009 - Herceptin maintenance and began Femara
12/10/2009 - 2nd stage reconstruction surgery
2/2010 - Body rejected saline implant
3/18/2010 - Second stage reconstruction using silicone implant
5/4/10 - Completed Herceptin - YEE-HAA!
May '10 - Body rejects silicone implant...taking a break.
11/29/10 - Hysterectomy
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03-09-2010, 11:03 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
After my bilateral DIEP, my plastic surgeon said silicone would be better for me. So I went with that rather then saline.
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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03-10-2010, 04:33 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 128
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
If you go into visit your plastic surgeon ask him to show you an example of each implant. You will see that the silicone feels more "real" if you are trying to match up and I have been told the textured saline implants tend to ripple when they adhere to the chest wall and it can be seen under the skin, not so the silicone. The old silicone implants could indeed leak but if your plastic surgeon shows you an opened example of the new "gummy bear" type of silicone implant they use today you will see that it cannot leak out of its container as it stays together just like a gummy bear. MRI can show if any implant is compromised and it sounds like in the states an MRI is one of your screening tests anyhow. If you have a good plastic surgeon they are usually better at knowing what we need than we are, although mine was pushing me to go bigger than I wanted. My figuring is the smaller they are then the less perfection or imperfection is obvious and the less upsetting it will be for my body. Good luck.
__________________
12/17/08 biopsy after two 6 mos mammo recalls
12/30/08 diagnosed high grade IDC & DCIS ER/PR +, Her2 (+++) post menopausal/age 57
1/15/09 double mastectomy/skin sparing; no evidence of vascular/lymphatic invasion, 8neg/8 nodes (tumor 8.0mm)
2/16/09 given portacath/removed 4/30/10
2/18/09 "surprise" 2.0mm tumor/positive borders~completed 28 rads 10/09.
2/23/09 until 4/19/10~treatments every 3wks (4 Cytoxan + Adriamycin, 4 Taxol + Herceptin, 13 Herceptin alone)
8/09 osteoporosis diagnosis/Zometa 3 yrs of 1x/6 months
Chemo side effects; Deafness, kidney function loss
11/09 began Aromatase Inhibitor (Femara)/Feb2014, stopped Femara early/after 3 mos began Tamoxifen for 8 mos to complete 5 years
11/10 Reconstruction, directly to silicone implants
12/11 nipples by skin graft/Right breast size reduced
I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have trouble with me!
Dr. Seuss
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03-10-2010, 05:37 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Kensington, CT
Posts: 394
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Re: Implant - What to choose?
Westcoastgirl;
Thank you for the info on silicone -gummy bears. I will definetly ask to see/feel the implants. The leakage risk doesn't sound as great.
Kris...
__________________
06/08/09 - 55, IDC, IIIA, ER+/PR-/HER+++
Nottingham 6/9 - Grade 2 5.2cm, several nodes
06/23/09 - Neoadjuvant - TCH Herceptin til June
10/07/09 - Finished Chemo
10/27/09 - Mastectomy RB
Path Report: RB No residual tumor pCR,
2 of 15 pos - .5mm largest micromets
12/18/09 - Radiation started (28)
02/05/10 - Finished Radiation
01/11/10 - Started Femara
06/22/10 - Finished Herceptin.. My son's 22nd BD. Hope it's a sign! Hoping for the best.
11/15/10 - Started Walter Reed BC Vaccine trial at
1/04/11 - Sibley Mem. Had to withdraw due to met
01/23/11 - Stage IV - Brain Met 1.6cm 1.7cm
02/03/11 - Gamma Knife (2 fracts to minmize necrosis)
03/01/11 - Gamma Knife
6/11 - Necrosis
7/11 - Necrosis stopped & Tumor progression
8/11 = Now think it's really necrosis
9/11 - Avastin every two weeks -- It's working!! Necrosis is shrinking.
12/11 - Necrosis gone AVASTIN worked.
12/11 - Bone &CT found
Oct '10 - Ran Hartford 1/2 Marathon to Thank Dr. Slamon for Herceptin!
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