Conditions
Poland's Syndrome
Anyone remember Jeremy Beadle’s unusually small right hand? Well that was a result of the rare birth defect known as Poland’s syndrome. Poland’s syndrome is a rare malformation, present from birth that only affects one side of the body, more commonly the right side. The extent to which, and the way in which, Poland’s syndrome manifests itself can vary greatly but its main symptom is the lack of, or underdevelopment of, a chest muscle. Furthermore the hand on the affected side of the body will often be webbed, may be smaller than average and in some cases missing some fingers entirely. The exact cause isn’t known, but it’s thought to be to do with a change in blood flow at around week 7 during pregnancy. Whilst some of the problems, such as the webbed hand, are sorted out in the first few years of childhood, further adjustments are left until after puberty to allow natural growth to finish. Bioengineered cartilage is sometimes fitted to give the chest a more normal appearance and breast reconstruction may be considered in girls after all natural development has occurred. Poland’s syndrome correction can be a long and gruelling process but those afflicted can lead completely normal, healthy lives without corrective surgery.
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My daughter has Polands Syndrome. We didn't know until her breasts started to develop and the right one didn't. We went to our GP (who we subsequent discovered had never heard of Polands) but were turned down by the NHS and BUPA for surgery so our GP referred us to a private surgeon who diagnosed Polands and carried out reconstruction when she was 17 which involved an implant with a valve to inflate until the breast was around the same size as the left one. The procedure was very painful but as good as it could get. Unfortunately, my daughter now has breast lumps, one of which is suspicious and the NHS want to do a cone biopsy which would damage the implant and therefore involves removal. The surgeon has informed my daughter (who is now 30) that the NHS won't fund a replacement as she had the original op privately. Unbelievable when the Press announced today that the NHS is funding "virginity" operations!! Her GP is fighting all the way but in any event, once the lumps are removed and hopefully benign, she will still have to wait some time for healing even if we pay for the op. She is an H cup in the left side so you can imagine how she feels! She is between a rock and a hard place and beside herself. Has anyone out there been in this position or could give some advice? By the way, she couldn't breast feed her baby, even though the midwife tried to persuade her - it was too traumatic for both mother and baby.
HI i was diagnosed with polands syndrome when i was 6 months old. I am 30 now. I Had two breast ops at 13 I had a saline implant in with butterfly clip to inflate deflate the implant. After it became uncomfortable I had second op at 23 and had a saline gel implant put in. I was told they have a " 10 year sell by date " as they put it. is this correct and am i able to breast feed ?, i have no children yet. Is it hereditary? nobody have confirmed these for me yet.
hi jo, Poland's is not hereditory,it is caused by something happening on the 41st day of pregnancy e.g. mother falling downstairs, or as mine is, an IRA bombing happening right next door. So unless you happen to do something on the 41st day of pregnancy to shock your baby, it is highly inlikely that it will occour. Also, in reference to breast-feeding, it really depends on the extent of your poland's.if your breast never developed then definatly not, but if you only had an underdeveloped breast it depends on whether any milk ducts were severed in putting the implant in. you'd have to ask the surgeon who did your op to find out for certain.
Nature is brilliant at compensating Jo. I have breast fed all of my children [tho I admit I had to suppliment my prem twins] and this was acheived with one breast only. The only minor drawback is having to keep a selection of external prosthesis handy if you are self-conscious of asymmetry as your breast changes size by the hour as the milk comes in. I got by by a mixture of baggy tops and the immense satisfaction of succeeding in feeding despite my PS. And re being hereditory, I have had a large family and there are no major PS issues. Having a multiple pregnancy with a naturally narrow pelvis was actually of more concern to the medics...
I am seventeen and i also have Poland's, and last month i underwent an operation and had my right hand side latissimus dorsi swung round from the back, and a tissue expander put in. i will need to have saline injections to stretch my skin, and then i will have to have another operation to remove the tissue expander and have a implant put in. it has been a painful experience that i definatly wouldnt want to repeat, but i can see that it is an improvement, and would recomend anyone else to look in to it if they want something done.
hi im 25 and have one breast bigger than the other ones a DD and ones a B i would say, iv been told i can only have a breast reduction is this true.
HI ,I DIDNT MANAGE TO WATCH THE SHOW . I WAS TOLD BY A FAMILY MEMBER ABOUT IT .I MYSELF DO NOT HAVE A R/H/S CHEST MUSCLE ,IWAS TOLD THAT WHEN I WAS BORN THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN PARALYSED DOWN ONE SIDE HAD IT BEEN WORSE , IS THIS TRUE? .THIS HAS NETHER BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ME PYSICALY APART FROM MY RIGHT ARM MUSCLE DONT SEEM TO HAVE FORMED LIKE MY L/H/S AND OBVIOUSLY BEING WEAKER THAN MY L/H/S. MY ISSUES WITH THIS HAVE ALLWAYS BEEN MENTAL IAM NOW 36YRS OLD AND HAVE CONFIDENCE ISSUES WITH WOMEN AND PLAYING TEAM SPORTS AND THEN WHEN ON HOLIDAY TAKING MY SHIRT OFF IS LIKE A BIG NO NO UNLESS I AM IN A COMFORTABLE SURROUNDING WHERE NO ONE CAN SEE ME . IWOULD LIKE TO GET THIS PROBLEM SORTED SO HOPEFULLY I CAN START LIVING SOME SORT OF NORMAL , BEING COMFORTABLE IN MYSELF LIFE. IF YOU CAN POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THIS WOULD BE GREAT , THANKS
I watched your program and would be interested in having this treatment. Could you give me the contact details of the doctor who performed this procedure please. Regards,
Hi, I'm 14 and I have Poland Syndrome, but, up to now, I have led a normal life. I've done sport since the age of 6, so my body if fairly fit. This makes my lack or pectoral major on the Right side of my body more noticable. But, I think, due to my active lifestyle, other muscles around where my Pectoral major should be have double insize. I play rugby, I have exelled in it, playing fort county and can do any other sports! Please could you give me details on how to have cartillege put in or some sort of surgery?! :) regards
Wow.. I had known since I was 7 I had no pectoralis major and minor on my right side, My mother was told it was bacause she had taken vitamin D while pregnant but beyond that it was just some thing I ignored. My right hand is slightly smaller than my left, I find it bizarre to now in my 40's to have a name for the condition, and that I'm not unique, I always told people I'd been in a car accident when I was small. I must admit I'd always rejected the thought of cosmetic surgery, but the program showed it to be very straight forward, and I'm now seriously considering it. Well done Channel 4.
I Have Polands Syndrome and have various ops on my Right hand which was webbed at birth with short stubby fingers of which i have just three digits.i had a breast reduction on my left side as this side developed quicker on that side. i live a normal life have got 2 daughters but while pregnant i had to have detailed scans to make sure babies were both ok, the other symptom to this syndrome is also a hairlip.
Hi my son was born with webbed fingers more on the left hand and just the two middle fingers the right hand isn't that webbed. He is fifteen now, I do not no if he has any problem with his chest muscle. The consultant said it it was because he was born early! What do you think? Thank you for your programme it's great.
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