saline or silicone... you input, please?

melissasd50 · Regular Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 21

i am due to have augmentation in my right breast in October, and am weighing the type of implant i want. Back when i had an expander on my left breast, my PS said he would recommind silicone because it was more natural feeling. Well many surgeries (and complications), and a new PS later, i had a DIEP on my left side. So now it is the right side we are concentrating on.
When my PS asked what i would prefer, i told him silicone because i had heard it was a more "natural" feeling. While my PS agreed with that, he felt that because he would be putting the implant under the muscle and i have enough tissue on top, i really wouldn't feel the difference between the two types. He told me that silicone was not a problem (per say), but that i would have to be part of a study for 20 years where a team would follow me in case of changes, or problems. This is a good thing as if there were any complications they would be right on it and i wouldn't have to worry about leakage (to any extreme) or other issues that silicone could cause.
However, i am wondering if this would be a hassle, and if i am just adding more anst to my lofe. Would i be constantly be wondering about the "what if's". Perhaps i would be better off with the saline, and not constantly be worrying. Or maybe i wouldn't be worrying because the issues and controversies of before have been debunked... i really want to have the breast that i can still have sensations feel as natural as possible.
Anyone with words of wisdom - good, bad or indifferent?
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m~

melissasd50 · Regular Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 21

Surely, there are some of you who have had implants & can give me an oponion...
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m~

bethanyaok

Hi Melissa! Sorry you're getting no replies. I don't know your age, but you might check out the discussion on the Young Survival Coalition message board: http://www.youngsurvival.org/blocks/Forum/index.php?s=92b3c031fe9ca33833168c2a14490f63&showforum=11

At least it's a bit more active than this one!
_________________
Bethany
breast cancer dx 4/17/00
4 AC, 28 rads, tamoxifen
7 years NED, and counting!
BRCA2+ 2/1/07

Lost Dad to Lung Cancer June '05

melissasd50 · Regular Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 21

Thanx, Bethanny. i will post there! melissa~
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m~

melissasd50 · Regular Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 21

Hard to believe this post has had almost 300 hits, but only 3 (THREE) responses...
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m~

marybeth

Hi Melissa! I haven't been on in quite a while and just saw your post. I had a bi lateral mastectomy with tissue expanders and scheduled for permanent implants this Nov 16th. I, too, was told the same by my PS - more natural feel etc. and he gave me much information regarding silicone vs. saline for me to make the 'informed decision'. Well, basically many women who have the unfortunate event of silicone leakage claim to have become sick, sort of an immune system thing. From everything I have read, there is no proof evidence to prove their claim. SO. I tettered back and forth, thinking about it while I had the expanders. Then during treatment it seemed I wasn't expanding much and my PS suspected a leak. Back to surgery to find 2 pinholes at the bottom of each one, they were leaking! (Dr. replace with different expanders and sent back the others to the mfg claiming defect). I have to admit, that experience made my decision. If that were silicone, what could it have been doing to me? I had one leak; I'm not taking any chances with another. It's saline for me. I have to admit that another of my decisions is based on the fact that the claim is (for some of the drugs I am on) that they don't cause joint pain "there's no evidence" is the satement I hear time and again. Well, I can see on many other posts, woman after woman has joint pain from drugs that the Dr. claims 'no evidence it causes joint pain'. So even though there is no 'evidence" that silicone causes problems - why take a chance? Hope this helps! MB
_________________
Dx 12/28/04 at age 51
DCIS and ductal carcinoma invasive
6mm tumor
lumpectomy 1/5/05 unsuccessful margins
left mastectomy 1/14/05
1 +/5 lymph nodes
Chemo started 3/15 AC, then Taxol
Herceptin 6 rounds/stopped b/c of low EF
Armimidex
right prophylactic mastectomy 2/17/06
Implants 1/07, final w/tatto 9/07

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