Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Lis My email is carol.dufour@btinternet.com could you send me an email so I can attach the Word document to the reply   Carol ... View more

 Hi Sue I have sent it over to you   Good luck for Monday   Carol ... View more

Hi Miss Wizy I still have the alerts turned on so I can pick up any new messages. I am 4 and a half years on from my DIEP now and am still pleased with the reconstruction. I have had some minor issues with the tummy scar but certainly nothing major. I think that being overweight to start with - (although it did enable them to take a good deal of excess tummy fat) has caused a couple of niggles but hardly surprising when you consider the amount they removed. My issues have only been once of uncomfortableness rather than anything serious. The reconstructed boob has been fine. It took probably best part of 18 months to 'loosen' up (from being like a Belgian bun) but hangs quite normally now and nobody would ever know that it had been 'man made'!. It hasn't restricted any movement and, other than initially where the skin had been compromised from previous radiotherapy, I haven't had any issues with it at all. It is smaller than the other boob so I sometimes 'enhance' it with a 'knitted knocker' just so that it evens them up a bit but, to be honest, most of the time I don't bother. I never got round to having a nipple put on - I was going to have the tattoo done instead but also never bothered with that either. I think at the time I had just had enough of operations and hopsitals and recoveries! Let me know if there's anything else you would like to know - I am more than happy to answer any queries - however big or small!   Hope it all goes well for you   best regards   Carol ... View more

Hi, i was told to take in Bridget Jones knickers and I was really scared about putting them on after such a surgery - especially with drains still in. As it turned out they were wonderful! They hold bits in nicely and I was able to walk upright after only 2 days. They were such a bonus for silly things like sneezing and coughing too. I needed to get a size larger as I underestimated the amount my tummy would be swollen. I also found it difficult to pull them on unaided but the nurses were great helping me and my husband helped when I went home. My DIEP was 4 years ago and I did a 'sort of' blog at the time which I still have somewhere if you wanted to take a look. The worst thing for me was not knowing what to expect.   ... View more

I have sent you a pm with my email address. If you send me an email I will reply to it and attach the 'blog' ... View more

Hi, I did a 'sort of' blog when I had my DIEP surgery back in 2013 - a lot of it covering the Bridget Jones knickers I had to wear. You are more than welcome to a copy if you want to pm me your email address ... View more

We are not set up to receive pm's so you need to send me a pm with your email address and I will send you th blog ... View more

Hi Emmalou, my email address is (removed due to Ts and Cs) - if you email me on that then I can attach the blog as it is a Word document   regards   Carol ... View more

My policy said Breast cancer was covered unless it was 'in situ'. I had what they thought was DCIS but the pathology showed 2mm of invasive cancer. Policy paid out! Didn't matter how big or how long it had been there - some was no longer in situ so it qualified for payout. I hope you have the same success! X ... View more

I would think not. You are still you. X ... View more

When I went back to the hospital it was at the weekend and to be honest they didn't know what they were doing - they just erred on the side of caution and have me antibiotics. I didn't get properly assessed until the Monday ... View more

Two weeks after my DIEP I had a slight redness on my reconstructed breast. I had no temperature and it wasn't painfull. I only mentioned it in passing to the district nurse when she was changing the dressing on my tummy scar and she suggested going back to the hospital and having it checked out. When I went to the hospital i ended up being admitted again for two weeks on iv antibiotics as there was an infection. If I were you I would get it checked out asap. If it's nothing then at least you would have had your mind put at rest. The medics would rather you checked it out and it turns out to be nothing than do nothing and it turns out to be a problem. X ... View more

had my DIEP almost 2 years ago and did a blog at the time. If you would like to take a read them email me with your email address and I will attach a copy to a reply. regards ... View more

I am not sure but I think you need to put an email address on your profile ... View more

Hi - I have just tried to send you a message but I don't think you are set up to receive them. ... View more

Hi Jane, I had similar to you just over 18 months ago. I did a blog when I was going through my treatment (mx and DIEP) - if you would like to take a read pm me with your email address and I will send you a copy Carol X ... View more

I am so pleased for you - it makes such a difference! Now you can concentrate on getting better! X ... View more

Hi, mine was agree in principle within 2 weeks and in my bank within 4 weeks. I only had a small amount of invasive (2mm) but the fact it was there was enough for their definition on not 'in situ'. Hope yours go through As soon as possbile. ... View more

Hi, i had MX and DIEP 18 months ago and did a blog whislt going through it - especially whilst in hospital. If you would like to take a look pm me with your email address and I will attach a copy to the reply email Carol ... View more

I had DIEP 18 months ago and was fine straight after but two weeks later I started leaking seroma from tummy site. The leaking went on for a good 2/3 weeks and I was soaking through clothes and bedding etc. Looking back I think I was fortunate that my seroma found it's own way out. ... View more