BREAST CANCER EXPERT FORUM
treating scar tissue with ultrasound therapy

treating scar tissue with ultrasound therapy

I was diagnosed in June '06. Had a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. I'm now taking Femara. All of my tests so far (mammogram and ultrasound in June '07, PET and CT in Oct. '07, ultrasound Dec. '07, and blood work every 3 months including circulating tumor cells and CEA) have been negative. I will have another CT scan next week. I will have an MRI (in place of a mammogram) in June '08.
I had a subcutaneous mastectomy with saline implants in Jan. '08. I had a second surgery on the breast that had cancer 2 weeks ago. This was to loosen scar tissue and enlarge the pocket for the implant to provide symmetry.
Scar tissue and capsular contraction are beginning to form again. The plastic surgeon has recommended pulse ultrasound therapy (12 treatments) to loosen and soften the scar tissue.
The physical therapist recommends against the therapy and cites an article that studied mice with subcutaneous malignant tumors that received ultrasound. The tumors in the mice enlarged and some metastasized into the lymph nodes.
I am trying to make an informed decision about receiving the therapy. My feeling is that the mice had active tumors and (all the tests indicate) that I do not.
Have any studies of people in this situation been done?  I don't want to ask for more problems but I would really like to be as normal as possible again.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
BEF 1050
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Dear BEF 1050:  Ultrasound is commonly used to assist in the treatment of scar tissue.  I am not aware of any studies in humans indicating that ultrasound stimulates tumor growth.  In the mouse study, it makes sense in the setting of known active tumors that ultrasound may improve the blood supply and this may be a possible explanation for increased growth.  You might want to discuss this again with your oncologist to see, in the context of your situation, whether there are any contraindications.  
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