Hello im currently halfway through chemotherapy and have spoke with the surgeon about options for surgery.
I have high grade dcis and invasice ductal carcinoma stage 2 grade 2 triple positive in my left breast…
The dcis is large over 10cm and yhe invasive part is within this so i have to have a left mastectomy and reconstruction.
Im going to look at double a dmx and reconstruction and im not sure about whats best…diep flap or implants.
I am a candidate for both so have options has any one had either of these ?
I have a 5 year old so looking to not have a great long recovery and also not putting of having aother child in the future im 31. So trying to weigh out whats best
Of anyone has any experiences with either of these surgerys
Hiya, I don’t have much in the way of advice to offer but I thought I’d share what I do know…
I haven’t started any kind of active treatment yet but am due to have a single mastectomy early Feb. I’m not sure of actual sizes but have been advised it is a lobular cancer in 2 locations. Initial diagnosis says grade 2. Will know more after surgery and SNB. Anyway, I wanted you to know that I was advised no implants as I will likely need radiotherapy after surgery and this will almost definitely compromise implants. i.e. Hardening or shrinking. You may know this already but definitely worth the question if radiotherapy is a possibility. I have elected to go for immediate DIEP reconstruction instead. Main reason being if I choose to go flat and later regret it there’s at least a 3 year waiting list for what is (in that case considered “cosmeticsurgery”). Bloody disgrace
Hiiii.
Diep…yeah about that. Started with lumpectomy for 2 tumours, 2 surgeries, all lymph nodes taken, upper arm nerve gone, spreads like wildfire doesnt it.
3rd op was mastectomy, I opted for recon & mastectomy in same op as my consultant explained the options/waiting times etc.
Am now 12 wks post surgery & being honest. Its a tough op. I have struggled. Batch cooking, rearranging cupboards to what I could reach. Pre planning was key. I have grown children & live on my own & struggled, but they did come to hoover, help, deliver food etc. Its a tough op. Really is. Emotionally, I personally said daily what the hell have I done. Even though I know in the long term its the right choice for me. Implants weren’t an option for me & I underestimated my own recovery.
Good luck & don’t refuse any help at all xx
Thank you, yes they said feom the surgeons perspective that he would even delay reconstruction with diep flap of i need radiotherapy, but im not so keen to wait 2 years flat i think mentally it would be to challenging for me especially after going through all this before. But i have a few people saying diep flap even if i need radiotherapy x
Did you have radiotherapy with your reconstruction? Yes i will be taking all the help i can get, so recovery can go as well as possible. Will do some batch cooking and organising things will keep me busy through the last of my chemotherapy x
Hiii.
Yeah, reconstruction was with mastectomy full Diep on 25th Oct & radiotherapy started on 23rd Dec, harsh but needs must. Plastic surgeon was open & honest & said if Bmi increased after mastectomy. I would need to lose weight to get to ideal Bmi before even getting into the waiting list…For me, mentally, I needed to complete surgery to be able to move to next treatment, although Diep phase 2 is this summer(tidying up).
They all made sure I was fit & ready for radio first
Yes radio damages the new boob but the reconstruction tales this into account. New boob is a cup size bigger to allow for shrinkage/tissue damage but any tweaks are corrected in Diep phase 2 if needed.
Hope this helps xx
Thats helps alot thank you, yes im ubsure if i need radiotherapy but i would rather have all the surgery/reconstruction done at the same time rather than wait 2 years to have reconstruction. I think mentally i need to have it all done and start to move on with the rest of treatment x
They honestly cover this in their prep for Diep, I felt very lucky to have been able to have been able to have the Diep & mastectomy. Although admittedly have days where I think, what the hell was I thinking.
Mentally its massive, but to go to sleep with 2 boobs & wake up with 2, not needing to look in the mirror daily with regrets is also a challenge on top of the cancer xx
At 31 I would go with the longest lasting and healthy route. It may be more work up front, but then you can move on. Implants have higher failure rates and if you add radiation to that there can be more trouble. DMX can get you symmetry, less testing in the future and more natural breasts since they take out the cruddy breast tissue and put in healthy abdomen tissue. I just had this done and it’s not easy, but if you are young and healthy you have a good chance. You will have to look into the possibility of your abdomen in regards to another child in the future. I’m not sure how that works.
Yes i think diep flap is sounding like the way i will go, the surgeon said that having kids wouldnt be an issue isnthe scar was left for a couple years to heal. And being triple positive i will be on hormone blockers for at least 2 years before i could take a break from them anyway so that would give it plenty time to heal x
Firsty, its good that you have a choice.
Ive had a single mastectomy with diep & although it was tough it wasnt half as tough as id expected.
Honestly, id write down your ‘deal breaker’ questions for your surgeon. Once they give you honest answers you can make a more informed decision; can you atill get pregnant with diep? How will radiation affect diep and implants, will implants need to be replaced; of so how often?
Youve made it 1/2 way through chemotherapy which is absolutely massive! Plenty of time to make a decision on surgery. Whichever you chose, youve got this
x