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Normal pain vs. warning signs in reconstructed breast?

Page last modified on: August 20, 2008
Question from SIONA: I have had a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction 4 months ago. What are considered to be normal pains in the reconstructed breast, and what are warning signs?
Answer —Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Occasional pains, sensitivity, or twinges at the reconstruction site are normal. Some of this is very individual, and some dependent on the type of reconstruction. With good physical therapy and post-op care it should be tolerable and improve over time. While we don't do imaging routinely on the reconstructed breast, we do examine the breast visually and with palpation to look for any issues with healing or any signs of recurrence.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called After Surgery: Short-term and Long-term Effects. Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Linda Miller, P.T. answered your questions about short-term and long-term side effects of breast surgery, and what you can do about them.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Kristin Brill, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon and clinical instructor at the Thomas Jefferson University Department of Surgery in Philadelphia, PA. She also maintains a practice in Cherry Hill, N.J. Dr. Brill is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In addition, she has published breast cancer research in medical journals such as Annals of Plastic Surgery and Cancer, and she has presented research at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Linda Miller, P.T. is the clinical director of the Breast Cancer Physical Therapy Center, LTD, a private practice serving the Philadelphia, PA and southern New Jersey areas. Linda specializes in treating post-operative complications of breast cancer surgery, including lymphedema.

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