Implant removal for Radiotherapy

Giving this a wee nudge in case anyone can help…. Still struggling despite chatting to family and McMillan chat.

Ruby xx

Hi , you've posted a tough one which is why I am guessing nobody has responded.  It's a very personal decision based on what you feel you can live with.

If I was in your shoes I think I would opt to have the implants removed and have radiotherapy.  My children are older than yours but my priority would be to do everything I can to try and be around as long as possible for them.

Have they told you that you definitely need the implants removed or can they leave them in and see whether radiotherapy affects them and if it does then you can have them removed and if not then great.  I'm sure I read somewhere on this site that radiotherapy 'may' require removal of implants and not 'will definitely require removal' so check this with your oncologist and radiotherapy team.

The question to ask yourself is 'if you don't have radiotherapy and the cancer comes back how will you feel about your decision?'.

Hope this helps and hasn't made it harder for you to make a decision.

Wishing you all the best in whatever you decide. xx

Hi Godwilling,

Thanks so much for your reply. I’ve been told that they won’t give me RT as things are at the moment as it’s too dangerous. They would be unable to get a safe angle without risking damaging my other breast and delivering too high an exit dose to my lung. My tumour was underneath my breast so it’s awkward. 

What you have said in terms of doing everything I can to prevent the cancer returning is the main thing weighing on my mind. I’m trying to find out if I have any other options regarding RT at the moment and getting a list of questions ready for the surgeon on Monday. 

I’m still so sore and tired from treatment at the moment it’s difficult to face more surgery and the thought of radiotherapy too. 

Thanks again,

Ruby xx

Perhaps it's an option to postpone radiotherapy and therefore also implant removal surgery until after you are feeling less tired and more able to deal with it.

So I would ask your surgeon and importantly your oncologist aswell, whether delaying radiotherapy and hence also implant removal surgery by a few months would make any difference to your prognosis for re occurrence. 

I remember my surgeon telling me to make contact with my oncologist and arrange to start radiotherapy asap after my lumpectomy but when I did make contact with my oncologist she disagreed and wanted me to wait a month to recover from surgery first.  Which is why I think you should also speak to your oncologist about all this.

Thanks, that’s really good advice. 

I’ve only seen my oncologist once straight after I was diagnosed and have been told I won’t see her again as I’ve completed chemo. This has been really hard as there have been quite a few things I would have liked to have discussed. 

A delay would certainly help me at the moment so I will ask my surgeon on Monday and see if there’s a particular time pressure. I’ll also speak to my Chemo team as I’m having ongoing Herceptin injections and ask for blood checks etc. 

Ruby xx

there was a very interesting article in the news today about Astra Zeneca and a new drug for Her 2 positive cancer that sounded promising although still early days.  

They are constantly making progress in treating breast cancer so lots of reasons for us all to be positive and hopeful.

xx