Post-mastectomy & radiation--what is your skin like?
I had a mastectomy in March 2005 and radiation last summer. I will probably have reconstruction later this year or early next year. For those of you who had radiation after your mastectomies, I am wondering what your skin looks like and feels like. My surgeon did a beautiful job with my scar area, so that isn't the problem. Here is what is weird: I don't sweat in that whole area, my nerve endings never recovered, so the area is very numb when touched, and since I am very slender and don't have much tissue left between my skin and my ribs, the area is very sensitive (the other day the dog jumped up on the bed--we have large dogs--and she accidentally stepped on my chest--hurt quite a bit). The skin just isn't quite the same.
My radiation oncologist thinks my skin looks great, but I am just wondering what the rest of you experienced with your skin, nerve endings, etc.
thanks!!
Val
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Dx 11/04, Age 42, ER-/PR-, HER2+++
3 months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin
Significant tumor shrinkage
Mastectomy 3/05; Stage 3b, 9 cm tumor, 5/8+ nodes
3 more months weekly Herceptin, Taxol. Carboplatin
7/05 30 radiation treatments, IMRT planning approach
Started 1 year of Herceptin 9/05
9/06 Began quarterly triple doses Herceptin. Brain & breast MRIs semi annually.
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6/08 Right breast, intraductal carcinoma, high nuclear grade associated with comedo necrosis; extensive diffusely involved the entire biopy specimen. ER+, PR-, Her2 unknown at this point, 07/08 mastectomy.
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