Has anyone started reconstruction and have cancer?

Lisa
It was during reconstruction that I had my 1st recurrence, to the lymph nodes in my neck...I also had the tissue expander in but only on 1 side. I was told to go in immediately and get the tissue expander out and have the implant placed in my chest. I did this, and then after healing for about 3 weeks, I started on Herceptin.....that kept everything under control for 1 year, and the lymph nodes again "popped up" in my neck area above the collar bone. I have remained on Herceptin and they are being monitored. If they begin to increase, the onc. said she wants to add Xeloda to the Herceptin. Unfortunaltely by having the tissue expander removed before the skin was totally stretched, I ended up with poorer results on the reconstruction. Makes me wish I had never done it in the first place....and wondering if the surgery stirred up something to cause the recurrence. The whole ordeal was very frustrating...in the hopes of looking and feeling normal again, I seemed to open a can of worms so to speak. I feel great except for the lymph node recurrence, something I will be dealing with the rest of my life. I continue to remain on Herceptin. Hope this helps.
Hugs
Sheila