Reconstruction and Radiation

[Laurel]

Good luck on Monday, Westcoastgirl! We are all pulling for you! Chemo is just yukky, but you will be done before you know it. I will pray all goes well for you. Let us know how it goes when you are feeling improved.

[Jackie07]

Try finish your meal at least 2 hours before the treatment. They may give you some ice to chew on during certain chemo infusion. Be sure to let the technician know your reaction to the chemo. Get a book to read or a puzzle to do. Our treatment room also has small TV mounted individually.

I usually fell asleep after 1 1/2 hour infusion. Also, your first infusion (loading dose) will be much longer than the following ones. (1 1/2 vs. 1/2 hour) I think the total treatment takes about 2 hours thereafter. Because I had had certain reactions (rash? &?), I had to take about 4-6 pills (including benadryl) orally just before getting the intravenous treatment. (They also do a 'flush' of the chemo pouch before infusing the real chemo liquid.

Just be sure to communicate to your nurses and treatment room staff.

[Becky]

Hi

Although I did not have my breasts removed, I am seriously contemplating it and have researched reconstruction and gone to seminars.

I am not interested in implants but from my research, if you get radiation and the rads are done before the reconstruction then nipples cannot be made from the skin that was radiated and they use skin from the inside of your thigh. Also, radiated skin may not stretch as easily as skin that is not radiated. However, if done before rads, you could get some capsulation (odds are well in your favor that this would not happen). Are you getting the new "gummy bear" silicone implants. Ask your PS about them because I heard in a recent seminar that they are superior and they should be getting FDA approval as we speak.

You should also ask your PS about the pros and cons of reconstruction before or after rads as they would have the best perspective of this.