I was dx'd with TNBC on June 14, 2016 and I was in surgery for a BMX with Tissue Expanders on June 29,2016. So it was just over 2 weeks. In thst time I must of had 5 different appts. I told the surgeon I was OK with NO RECONSTRUCTION. She then goes on to tell me I would regret thst decision and set me up with PS . So it was almost like they were team tagging me when I was at a vulnerable time. I was never told I could delay thst decision and choose reconstruction down the road if I wanted or maybe do chemo first and see if it shrunk. Quite frankly I am not sure what the rush to get me I to surgery.. During radiation I ended up with significant damags. Again before my Exchange no one ever told me I could remove the exoanders instead of going on with the implants. Within 4 weeks of my exchange I developed capsular contracture. I have had 2 surgeries since to help release the capsule which has made it worse. It was only a few weeks ago that someone linked me to a group of other women a lot that don't even have cancer who have been made ill from their implants. I really thought the danger was only from rupture, not from the shell itself. When I looked at the list of symptoms I had at least half and I have o ly had implants for 8 months. Even the expanders have a shell of silicone so I think th chemical might have started to leak I to my body, 13 months before my implants.

https://healingbreastimplantillness.com/breast-...

ok.. well let me just start by answering the first question... NO, my surgeon did not tell me the side effects and risks of breast implants. AND... I asked!! and researched. I had saline years before (which have their problems too..) when the FDA approved the "new" silicone in 2005... a lot of woman jumped at the opportunity of having silicone back on the market... not me.. I thought they were too new and there was not enough research on them..(they had been using silicone in breast cancer patients only up til then) they were just finally approved for cosmetic again (after the dow corning scandal)... anyway... after several years of watching and waiting.. and not really finding anything "bad" with silicone.. I changed mine out in 2011. Still no word of illness, side effects or BIA-ALCL (Breast implant associated Anaplastic large cell lymphoma) but the FDA was aware at the time. AND.. I figured.. if they are fine to put in breast cancer patients for reconstruction... those that have the lowest crashed immune systems... and have been through chemo, radiation, medication treatments etc... they must be ok, right? Wrong... all these symptoms have been around.. they were just always (and still are blamed on chemo and rad treatment).... Anyways.. I put the silicone in and my life changed drastically.. I was 35 years old.. sicker than sick..(check out my story)... and continued to go down hill for 6 years!!!! When i finally learned of Breast implant illness... I was in the surgeons office the next day saying I want them out! I was told they couldn't possibly make me sick.... and that the FDA says they are safe.. I said F the FDA.. I know these are the problem... and I want them out.. capsules and all. *****continued below******

My cousin is a personal injury lawyer, all they do is personal injury cases. I asked her why no one has sued for docs still prescribing HRT when they know it causes breast cancer. She said it's not that easy that big Pharma has deep pockets and the government to back them in these types of cases. The average person just does not have endless amounts of money to fight these guys. I am sure the same would be for implants.

@A MyBCTeam Member I think if I had been warned about the side effects I would have definitely not done it. My gut initially was not to do it and my husband and family were in board. It was my breast surgeon and OS who told me I would regret not doing reconstruction. I know I should have been stronger but all I knew was I was just dx'd with cancer and I had to make a decision right away, I do think we need to educate women to do their own research ahead of time even if it means de,aying surgery, I was raised to believe doctors and follow their advice. I now know they don't always have my interests at heart.

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