New member

[Guest guest]

I only found this group today and would like to introduce me and my

implant situation and my distrust of doctors.

After a lumpectomy I was diagnosis with breast cancer October 2005,

the doctor told me " if " I had a mastectomy I would not need any

additional cancer treatment, later I found it to be a lie. I am 47

and didn't want to live the next 30 years with only one breast so I

checked into an implant and got lie #2. The plastic surgeon was

quick to recommend silicone implants as perfectly safe and ideal for

my small breast size. He stated that the most recent test results

have given silicone implants a " clean bill of health " and there was

no proof to all the bad information out on them.

I told him I only wanted the one implant and it should match the

remaining breast, but in his ultimate wisdom he gave me an implant

nearly twice my normal size. It is a Becker implant half silicone

and half saline with a port to increase or decrease its size. I did

not want additional surgeries to match my breasts and decided not to

have a nipple surgically put on my reconstructed breast. I was

prepared to live with two different sized breast and get on with life.

Then on March 16 I went in to have the port surgically removed and

guess what, the doctor botched it, he nicked the tube leading to the

implant and all the saline leaked out! Now I am left with a hard

silicone lump for a breast and a decision to make. Do I replace the

silicone implant or do I have them put in a saline implant or do I

have them remove the implant and go through life with only one breast?

The implant is under my chest muscle which was cut and a piece of

cadavor tissue added all at the time of my mastectomy. If I choose

to have the implant removed and not replaced what all do I need to

tell the doctor to do and remove?? Besides the implant, should I

have the cadavor tissue also removed? And in 4-5 months is there a

capsular that should also be removed and how will I know that it was

actually taken out? Do I request the implant to be given back to me

and will the doctor give it to me? Will I have muscle damage and arm

weakness, what will be my recovery time?

After the doctor told me he cut the tube and the implant needed to be

replaced, I asked him who was going to pay for the additional surgery

and he said insurance. Is my insurance company responsible for this

cost? Is he? I told him I was going to call the Becker Implant

company and report the implant had failed but he said it didn't, that

he had cut the tube causing the leak. Is there anywhere I can turn

for support or advice?

Right now the implant is a hard distorted little lump, he claimed the

silicone wasn't leaking but I am not so sure, I have a burning

sensation in the lower part of my breast.

Help me.

Polly S.