Diary of a DIEP flap bilateral reconstruction
When I was considering reconstruction options I went looking for accounts of people who had been through the process. There was not much there so I promised myself I would try to add to the informatio...
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Having 'dealt' with breast cancer and all that trauma it was made clear to me that I have a level of ongoing genetic risk similar to having BRACCA genetics. The clinching question was "could you cope with a third cancer diagnosis?" The answer was no, not if I can help it. So I resolved to have a second mastectomy but I could not face actually doing it for a couple more years. I was interested in reconstruction as well but only considered implants so that total surgery time and my risk of complications (like DVT I have had before) was less. That was my plan but late in 2012 I decided that I wanted to check out all the reconstructive options before making my final decision. I live near Canberra but was referred to Prof. David Pennington in Sydney. I immediately felt as though I was talking to someone with vast experience, he explained the DIEP flap procedure and its advantages over TRAM flap and said that I did not have any insurmountable issues to prevent me having such surgery. He writes scientific papers on new procedures and exuded competence. The cost was a shock but I sold myself the idea of losing my remaining breast if I could go on to reconstruction after.