Ask an Expert is a free question-and-answer service about breast cancer and breast health that is available on weekends. If you'd like to ask a question or comment, please visit us again on Saturday or Sunday. In the meantime, please search the existing topics using the search tool at the top of the page. It's quite possible that one of our many existing topics already addresses your question.
If you would like a consultation with a breast specialist at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center, call 443-778-2778. It is possible to get an appointment for a second opinion within a few days of contacting us.
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| Forum | Questions | Ask a Question | |
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Radiation Therapy Questions about Radiation Therapy. |
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| Asked | Publicly Submitted Question | ||
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| 3/2/2010 | I had a double mastectomy 11/08 with tissue expanders put in. Had radiation on right side for 7 weeks before expansion. The right breast that had the radiation wasn't expanding very well. Tried expansion for 14 months. Recently had exchange surgery to silicone implants. Now I have two different size breasts. Same size implants put in. My plastic surgeon said it is because of the radiation & the tissue expanders caused the rib cage to be depressed on the radiation side. He said he could possibly fix this in a year or two after the radiated tissue relaxes. Does this sound right? What are my options other than having two different size breasts? | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 3/2/2010 | Radiation is valuable in helping to prevent local recurrence and implants are a nice option for reconstruction, but the two don't go well together. this is a common problem. usually women are better served with having the tissue expander take the radiation hit as you had done, then having the tissue expander removed and tummy fat (NO MUSCLE) put there instead. that works well with radiated tissue. DIEP flap most specifically. there are only a handful of centers expert at doing it though. we are one of them. if you want to come our way for evaluation just call 443-287-2778. I've had diep flap done myself and love it. L | ||
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