I am sorry you are having to deal with those expanders. But, it sounds like you have the right attitude! It is true about the radiation potentially ruining your new breast implants, though...

Here is how I learned about that: As I had mentioned previously, the genomics test revealed that radiation would be of no benefit in my case. Even so, the Oncology team set me up with an appointment with the Radiation Doc (post surgery) who offered the option of radiation if I still wanted to do it.

She discussed how she would have to direct the beam at my one affected breast from 3 different angles in each session, a total of 15 minutes x 5 days per week x 6 weeks (if I remember correctly).
After she was done explaining the process, I said, "Well now, let's talk about the potential side effects."

That's when I learned that radiation could:
- fry my vocal chords, which may permanently alter the sound of my voice,
- possibly injure/destroy my thyroid gland, (I am already hypothyroid),
- likely leave a scar on my lung which would be visible on x-rays forever after,
- could burn my skin on that breast,
- and something I didn't know about and that was that it would/could destroy my newly installed breast implant which would then have to be surgically removed and replaced afterwards!
Can you imagine! So I told the Doctor, "Hmm. I believe I will decline that option." She nodded in agreement. And, so far, so good!