Is there a chance of getting cancer in the tissue of the breast reconstruction?

Yes and no: Breast cancer can come back even after a mastectomy. The risk is very low and is the same whether you have breast reconstruction or not. Breast reconstruction does not increase cancer recurrence. It cannot cause a new cancer since no breast tissue is used in the reconstruction. However, recurrent breast cancer can grow into surrounding tissues, including the chest tissues and reconstructed breast.

Breast Cancer: The tissue transferred in to perform breast reconstruction is not breast tissue and should not have the ability to develop breast cancer. A breast surgeon removes between 96 to 98% of the breast tissue during mastectomy. This is due to the relationship between the skin, fat and breast tissue especially when operating around the nipple areolar complex.

No: The "chance" does not come from the reconstruction. The "chance" is recurrence of the original tumor since no mastectomy can remove 100% of all breast tissue.

Depends on tissue: If the reconstruction was with a rotational flap the. The skin came from an area that does not have native breast tissue. The remnant breast tissue along the chest wall and underlying skin is still at risk for developing recurrence or new primary cancer. If the reconstruction was with expanders and implants then the tissue does contain breast cells at risk. Risk is same.'tissue is different.

Usually in skin: Yes there is a chance of cancer in the skin or surrounding areas following breast reconstruction. This can occur regardless of the method of reconstruction and is more reflective of the type of cancer and the treatment. However this should not stop you from considering reconstruction.