I have IBC

Sue

This surgeon does mainly  skin grafts for cancer on faces etc. His words were that even with a DIEP flap reconstruction, they would cut through the stomach muscles/walls to take out connected nerve/blood vessels, because he said when he does a flap he wants to make sure that it is successful and not fail, in other words he probably doesn't know the DIEP operation and is just describing a TRAM flap operation a bit glorified to make it sound like a DIEP.  I'm pretty clued up on the difference.

I am not 100% on even wanting any surgery (I would be happy to have the other breast removed) which they won't do because I'm have no BC gene and it is healthy. Because I am a public patient, I have a small say in what I want but not much which is fair enough since I'm not paying for anything, but regaining some body image is still considered part of my treatment so at present I am booked for a reduction & lift on the other side. At any time in the future, I might get referred to another surgeon at another hospital who does the DIEP operation, even if I have to pay for it. But at present I'm in wait and see mode as my extensive grade 3  IDC had a high grade DCIS component which is not the best prognosis. I'm enjoying every moment of being in fairly good health while I can, so the least surgery the better for now. But I will keep asking questions.

Marian