Belly button after DIEP
Hi Network, I’m 8 weeks post-mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction following a DCIS diagnosis. Overall, recovery is going well—except for my belly button. I developed an infection 10 days post-op, which landed me back in the hospital, and since then, it just hasn’t felt right. It pulls and hurts when I move, especially on one side. I’ve raised my concerns with my surgeon, breast nurse, and physio—they all say it’s normal. But you know that feeling when something just doesn’t seem right? I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has experienced this—does the belly button just take longer to settle during recovery or should I get another opinion? Thanks in advance x24Views0likes0CommentsFederal petition for paramedical tattooist registration and increased Medicare rebate < 19th Feb2025
Please sign our petition before 19th February 2025. Link to petition https://tinyurl.com/zsy38u25 • The aim of this petition is to gather support for previvors (people who have had or are considering having preventative mastectomies) and breast cancer survivors who have undergone breast reconstruction after mastectomy and who would like to have intradermal colouration of nipple or areola or both (medical tattooing) by a Paramedical Tattooist with a good Medicare rebate. The petition will be given to Jenny Ware MP - Federal Member for Hughes, who is supportive of both issues, and she will be taking it to the Health Minister in early 2025 to lobby for change. You can also really add weight to your support, by emailing Your related Story to Ms Ware. Jenny.Ware.MP@aph.gov.au 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨. *Please advise in that email to Ms Ware , if you’d like your name to be redacted for privacy or not, when Jenny presents the summary of some case experiences , along with the petition numbers to the Health Minister. By participating in this petition, you are advocating for changes that could lead to better patient care and support for those affected by similar breast cancer reconstruction experiences, to include paramedical tattooists as part of the Medicare subsidy providers and a higher rebate. The petition is open until 19 Feb 2025. Please share this so we can get as many signatures as possible. Thank you! Petition link https://tinyurl.com/zsy38u25 • Earlier this year, the Australian Medicare system added a rebate of $191 for the intradermal colouration of the nipple or areola or both under MBS item 45546 for use only by medical practitioners and MBS item 82228 for use only by nurse practitioners. I would like to see the integration of qualified and regulated Paramedical Tattooists into the Australian Medicare system. By including these highly trained professionals, we can ensure that high standards of aesthetically pleasing and artistically rendered medical tattoos, such as 3D nipples, are achieved. This can significantly enhance the quality of life and mental health outcomes for patients compared to the results often seen with hospital-performed tattoos where most haven’t been given adequate training to perform to an acceptable standard and comfortably execute such an important closure of someone’s breast cancer experience, leading to negative psychological and emotional outcomes. • Current costing of medical tattooing of both areolas and nipples is between $1200-$1600, the current Medicare rebate $191. • If men were diagnosed in the same numbers that women are this would have been changed a long time ago! The following information is an extract from Pink Lotus Australia - Disadvantages of tattoos done by Nurses & Doctors with inadequate training. 1. Limited Artistic Freedom: Medical tattoos may lack the artistic finesse and customisation available with paramedical tattooing, resulting in less natural-looking results. 2. Suboptimal Ink Healing: Due to differences in technique and equipment, medical tattoos may exhibit poorer ink retention and fading over time compared to those performed by highly trained paramedical tattooists. 3. Insufficient Training: Medical staff may not have specialised training or experience in cosmetic tattooing techniques, potentially leading to subpar outcomes and patient dissatisfaction. 4. Lack of Tailored Care: Paramedical tattooists offer personalised solutions tailored to each patient's unique needs, whereas medical tattoos may follow a standardised approach that does not account for individual variations in skin texture, scarring, and color matching. 5. Limited Information and Aftercare: Patients may receive less comprehensive information and aftercare guidance from medical staff compared to paramedical tattooists, potentially affecting the healing process and long-term satisfaction with the results. Regards Sam & Kristen PS I have pinned this post on Facebook for Sutherland Shire Breast Cancer Support Group public page for easy sharing. https://www.facebook.com/sutherlandshirebreastcancersupportgroup/ and it is on insta @ssbcsg @Mez_BCNA FYI91Views0likes8CommentsPrivate or Public?
Hi everyone, I'm a newly diagnosed in my late 30's. my cancer is invasive grade 1 in one breast. I have private health insurance but the out of pocket costs of the plastic surgeon and aneastetic would be around 14k which is a big figure for me. I'm told if I go private, I can have the surgery as soon as 2 weeks but the puclic system may take upto 6 week. my question is how urgent is the surgery, will a month difference matter? Also I'm choosing to do a double mastectomy to reduce the risk of cancer in my other breast. I'm slim and don't have much fat for reconstruction, implant would be the best solution forward for me. Has people who have gone with implant reconstruction in public system been happy with the result? how does the after treatments look for them? Any public hospital that you recommend in Victoria for the surgery and reconstruction? will the result of the reconstruction be any different if I'm in public vs private? I will be staying upto 3 days in the hospital due to implant reconstruction so really having a shared or private room is not a big factor here. Can anyone who has gone through this privately or publically contact me please?299Views0likes9CommentsInsulting and Judgmental Comments
Something I was not prepared for post breast reconstruction, are the judgmental comments the scar on my belly is attracting. I have been undergoing abdominal ultrasounds to try and figure out the problems I am having with my period. The ultrasound people keep referring to the scar on my belly as a "tummy tuck". I've even been asked "why have you had a tummy tuck?" I have a lot of scars on my body. I am proud of every one of them. They are proof of all the crap I have been through with Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer. None of these scars attract the same judgment and comments as the one on my belly. I have not had a tummy tuck! I had a bilateral skin sparing mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction! I was in surgery for 9 hours! I was in hospital for 7 days! I was off work for 10 weeks! I chose to undergo this surgery to remove breast cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence and death!!!!!! I was so SCARED going into that surgery!! This was no FUCKING tummy tuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Negative impact of radiation on Flap (autologous) reconstruction??
Hi all, will have mastectomy in a couple of months time, am considering to have an immediate breast reconstruction (IBC) using my own tissues/ flap (autologous). Unfortunately, I will have a series of radiation after the IBC. I am worried the radiotherapy will kill/destroy/ causing complications on the flaps. I did some research at my end. However the comments were conflicting. Therefore would appreciate your advice. Please..no advice is too silly. Thanks heaps!123Views0likes5CommentsOne is BIGGER than the other!
Hi I had an early diagnosis and lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and follow up treatment of right breast in 2003 (aged 45 years). As I've aged, my treated breast is shrinking and shrinking and shrinking and is now very obviously a different size to my left breast. 1 Has anyone else experience this? 2 Do you think it would be considered 'medically necessary' surgery if I wanted a reconstruction for health fund purposes? Appreciate any feedback - thank you so much.303Views0likes8CommentsInvitation: Join the private Breast Reconstruction group
Hi Ladies, I am looking for lovely ladies who have undergone breast reconstruction and wish to share their experience! It doesn't matter when you had your reconstruction, you may have had it done years ago or just recently. I have started a private group called 'Breast Reconstruction' to share stories and images of reconstruction. There are ladies in the group who have joined and are looking for all sorts of answers and you might just be the right person they need to connect in with. Please consider joining this private and secure group to share your story and if you are comfortable, pop up a picture. Click the link below to take you to the private group: http://www.bcna.org.au/group/61026 Important: All member requests go to me (LouiseTurner) as group facilitator and I will review and approve. This helps to ensure your privacy is maintained. Louise361Views1like31CommentsMastectomy /post surgery pillow
Hi all, I have a brand new mastectomy pillow that I found really helpful that is basically as new. I would be really happy to post it to anyone that is about to have surgery at no cost. I just can’t bear to throw it away and would be happy for it to help someone else! Just dm me with your address if you would like it. I’ve attached some photos x103Views0likes6CommentsPerth Breast Reconstruction Support Group Xmas Party
Saturday 7th December 12:30pm Herdsman Lake Tavern Wembley Perth ladies - Please join us for our last support group for 2024. This is the place to hear about the different types of reconstructions & get your questions answered. You may bring a female friend for support but we are a lovely friendly group & welcome all ladies. If you’ve done your reconstruction & would like to reassure other women please consider joining us. Simone Hall from PRT studio will be joining us to share info about 3D nipple tattooing & will have her temporary tattoos avail for purchase so you can see what a huge difference they make to a breast mound. The room will be decorated for Xmas and if you wish to join in - bring along a $15 secret Santa gift - feel free to wear your Xmas finery 🤶🎉11Views0likes0CommentsScar Management for anyone finding them taking a long time to heal, red, bumpy, itchy...
Hey All, I just wanted to say in the past I haven't really worried about my scars from surgeries, however since doing my Diep Flap recon in February and subsequent revision surgery in July, I had my abdominal wound reopened. It was red, itchy and bumpy so thought I'd have a consult with people who specialise in scar management. Thanks to my friend @nikkid for the contact, I went today. I know in my post op visits there really wasn't much talk of scar management at all, so thought I'd pop a post for anyone who is finding them annoying red, itchy, bumpy and wanted some help with it. They use silicon dressings that I wear at night only, I then massage over 4-6 weeks in circular motions, (even an electric toothbrush) to break up the scar tissue about 4 times a day. My scars are so annoying and irritating,so that's why I decided to get some extra help. So I have a great recommendation in Melbourne for anyone needing that. Big hugs Melinda xo1.5KViews1like40Comments