Forum Discussion

Sharona's avatar
Sharona
Member
12 years ago

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 information available. I am a few days into the process so will have to go back a bit to explain my situation. Bowel cancer diagnosis age 36 when having my first screening (aged 10 yrs less than my mother had been diagnosed, she died of it). Surgery and loss of 2/3 of bowel. Chemotherapy over following 7 months. Genetic investigations revealed HNPCC (lynch syndrome) so I have a continuing risk; I have annual colon screening and had a total hysterectomy to reduce my risk of associated cancers. When my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer I was told it was not associated with our genetics, just the 'background' risk of breast cancer, so i did not really believe it could happen to me - I had had my cancer.How quickly genetics research is advancing. I found a lump in 2010 and began my breast cancer journey which turns out to be genetically linked with HNPCC (not the more usual BRACCA genetics).
chemotherapy
Reconstruction

65 Replies

Sort By
Show More
  • Sharona's avatar
    Sharona
    Member
    12 years ago
    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.