lumpectomy and radiation therapy

norah m lee · Guest

Hi,
I have had a lumpectomy but further surgery recommended to take one more section where further calcifications show.
I would like to go to radiation therapy after surgery but am hearing from plastic surgeon that burning of skin and hardess of tissue may result and section where tissue has been taken will sink down to chest wall and look pretty ugly. Has anyone proceeded with radiation and what were the results in similar case? The surgeon and plastic surgeon recommend a mastectomy. 12 years ago I had mastectomy and implant on other side.

norah m. lee

Guest

Hi Norah,

Sorry you are going through this again. I've had partial mast's on both sides, with rads. One side is just fine, the other has a divit Smile

LE on both sides (ugh).

Did you have a SNB with your lumpectomy or are they doing an axilla dissection when they do your wide excision? (sorry, chemobrain destroyed whatever little spelling ability I once had...lol). I think the radiation damage they are talking about is directly related to how much tissue they plan to remove and where it is.

Why are they recommending a mast? Would you still have to have rads if you have one?

Here are the things I'd consider, in deciding which route to go:

Wide excision - healing time before rads - usually 4 to 6 weeks; rads, depending on how many - 4 to six weeks; recovery from rads 6 months or more depending on your current health and how well you tolerate tx. Physical end result - possibly "pretty ugly" to quote the surgeon. Did they say if they could do anything to make it look better after healing? I'm guessing they won't touch it.

Mastectomy - healing time from week 4 you'll feel better and better, the first 10 days you are sore, but that's why they have drugs. (My friend had a double mast in late May and in Sep the day she finished rads went on a 2 week training course, came back packed up and moved south to a new job.) Healing time will also depend on which procedure you get, tram or lat flap takes longer, mast with expanders which are later changed out to implants takes less healing time. There are also variables like how much they are taking, and whether or not you'll still need rads. The healing time with rads is about the same either way, and they will fill the expander before they start rads. If you don't have rads the expanders are usually changed out in 3-6 months, depending on your body. With rads, the healing time is a little longer. Physical result - most likely pretty good (you'll never have to worry about droop and both sides will match).

In the 12 years since your first mast they've come a long way. I have a few friends who have had them, some with reconstructs, others without.

It is a completely personal decision, because only you know how your body works and what is important to you. We all react to the surgeries and treatment so differently. Ask your doctors all the questions you need to so you can make the best decision for you. Let us know how things are progressing.

Cheers,
Bree

MnLady13 · Guest

Hi, Norah, Bree has given you a lot of good advice and information. I had a lumpectomy with radiation in 1996. I have a divot where the lumpectomy was, but that is due to a a post-surgical infection. I did have some burning of the skin during radiation and some of the skin broke down and peeled. But it healed. Eventually the redness faded to a tan and even that just about disappeared. My breast was pretty firm during rads, but it too has recovered and is squishy again. What has remained is extreme sensativity in the nipple. Maybe it is psycological, but it seems overly sensative to any stimulation. Rolling Eyes

Sorry to get this explicit. Good luck to you. Hugs, Lauri (8 and 7)

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