Hi Kate, 

What a terrible experience. I’m new here too and not as far on as yourself so can’t really help I’m afraid. It’s making me consider my decisions though. I was diagnosed just before Christmas and need to have a course of chemo before my mastectomy as well as after. I have to decide whether to have the reconstruction at the same time which is a huge decision to make. Hope there’s someone on here who can help you. For now I’m just going to think about the chemo which should start next week.

Let me know how you get on.

Julie

Hi Julie,

Thank you for your reply, and I am sorry to hear you are also going through this. 

I think I am quite unique in that I have this patch of thin skin, which is the part that is causing the issues and not healing!

i thought about all my options regarding the surgery etc, and decided that for me the reconstruction at the same time was the right choice. My main reason was that I thought it might be less emotionally stressful, and also I couldn’t think that I would want to go back into hospital for the procedure followimg 8 months or so of chemo and radiotherapy. Obviously everybody is different, for me it just felt the best decision at the time. When my surgeon spoke to me today he did say I could still go back following treatment, and have the implant redone. So I will consider this at the time.

The healing of the surgery scar was good, and the implant has settled and looked a good match to the other one, which were all good points. I believe that it can be more painful having it done this way, so you may want to discuss that with your doc or nurse when the time comes. I’ve never felt that the new boob wasn’t me, and didn’t feel conscious at all about it. I feel it has been a long 10 weeks since the surgery, but that is more because of the hole, rather than the actual surgery, if that makes sense. 

I will update my post once I know more after my trip back on Monday and between now and then I’ll be keeping that a small miracle occurs and the hole heals!

Sending you love for your start of treatment for next week x

Hi,

My wife had Triple Negative BC, but she never had a mastectomy.  She had 6 cycles of FEC-T followed by a lumpectomy.  I do recall that a few weeks after her lumpectomy op she had a seroma and had to have a drain fitted to the side of the breast/armpit area and this area of skin seemed to be unsettled and did end up causing an infection for her. 

I know it's not exactly the same situation as above, but in general any ops in that area can cause issues with the skin.  Sometimes areas won't heal properly, or they can heal up nicely but cause a tightening of the skin / scar tissue.  The leaking fluid you mention does sound like a seroma, but it does seem strange that they haven't put a drain in to try and stop it leaking out of an open wound.  Keep on at the doctors, I really don't think they should be sending you away without sorting that out, especially if it hasn't healed at all in 6 weeks!  

Hope this helps?

James x

Hi KatieBella,

Welcome to the forum, just sorry you've found yourself here.

I'm not in your position but am 41 with breast cancer and had my mastectomy and lymph node dissection in November so have some idea of what you are going through.  My original biopsy and my mastectomy scar have healed brilliantly, but I can't have radiotherapy until the fluid that has collected around my reconstruction goes down and it is taking forever!  It is a waiting game sadly.

Obviously you don't have to decide about future reconstruction now so just put that to one side.  It's hard to see a positive to having it done when you've had this experience and it's still all very fresh, but once your body is better there's no reason a reconstruction won't go really smoothly.  Everything you're going through just now with poor healing is likely part and parcel of the cancer.

Do they definitely think removing the implant will help the area heal?  If that's the case I'm not sure what option you have as I imagine you want to get on with chemo asap and they really can't do that until you're healed.

Hopefully someone with closer experience to yours will come on shortly but just wanted to respond and say welcome since we share some aspects of the fight we're in.

Take care,

LJx

Hi Julmess,

Don't think I've come across you so far, so welcome too.  Sorry about the timing of your diagnosis, not that it's ever a good time but Christmas is especially sucky for that kind of news.

If it helps any I'm a bit like you in that I had to have chemo straight away, so had 6 rounds of that then my mastectomy with reconstruction.  There's a chance radiotherapy will damage the reconstruction but for me the risk was worth taking as I don't respond well to anaesthetic to fewer operations is better if possible.  I'll be having more chemo starting soon too so same as your current plan.

Best wishes for next week, hope chemo goes smoothly for you.

LJx

Thanks for your reply James.

From what they have said it’s not a seroma, it’s just a small amount of fluid that should just be re absorbed by the body, but instead is just slowly making its way through the original biopsie hole, which is not healing as it’s always wet despite having a dressing on. I did have an ultrasound at one point, but there was nothing to drain, so they left it. So far it has been infection free, which is a good thing. 

I am going to speak with them on Monday, just to see if there is anything else they can try, as I do feel that the last 10 weeks will have all been in vain if it’s just removed! Although of course the tumour is gone, which is a good thing.

Thanks again for your reply,

kate 

Thank you for your reply, and sorry to hear you are also going through this.

Sounds similar with the fluid collection, just that mine has the little hole to escape from which is preventing the healing. And yes, they are keen to start the chemo, but can’t until this is sorted. They have said that the removal of the implant will allow it to heal, as there will be less pressure on the skin. 

I am going to speak with them on Monday, and just see if there are any other options before this. Although as you say I may well feel differently re having another reconstruction further down the line, once I am feeling better and maybe (hopefully) at the other side of all this! 

The actual mastectomy scar has healed very well, and they managed to save skin and important other bits, so that was positive at least.

Hppe your treatment can get underway soon, and all the best for that.

thanks again for your reply,

Kate