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StillHere · 08-19-2009, 07:16 PM

I had my bi-lat free flap done 3 yrs ago. I did have to go back for emergency surg the next day because I was loosing blood flow to the left (non-cancerous) foob (love that word). My plastic surgeon was able to save the flap. He reconnected blood flow using my mammory blood vessel. I had my port taken out at the same time as my free flaps. The port removal somehow blocked the blood flow from the initial flap surgery (Swelling?). Had to find a new route, but all ended OK. I know my surgeon would not do the free flap directly after my bi-lat mastectomy because he did not want to risk loosing the flap to radiation. I look like a patch work quilt, but am still happy I had it done. It does not show w/ a swimsuit, tank top, etc. I think if I am NED at 5 yrs, I will get 2 tattoos. One the sign for woman and on the other side a peace sign. No nipples for me.

08-19-2009, 07:16 PM	#11
StillHere Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Greendale, WI just outside Milwaukee Posts: 211	Re: Repair on TRAM flap I had my bi-lat free flap done 3 yrs ago. I did have to go back for emergency surg the next day because I was loosing blood flow to the left (non-cancerous) foob (love that word). My plastic surgeon was able to save the flap. He reconnected blood flow using my mammory blood vessel. I had my port taken out at the same time as my free flaps. The port removal somehow blocked the blood flow from the initial flap surgery (Swelling?). Had to find a new route, but all ended OK. I know my surgeon would not do the free flap directly after my bi-lat mastectomy because he did not want to risk loosing the flap to radiation. I look like a patch work quilt, but am still happy I had it done. It does not show w/ a swimsuit, tank top, etc. I think if I am NED at 5 yrs, I will get 2 tattoos. One the sign for woman and on the other side a peace sign. No nipples for me. __________________ 04/05 Onset 49, DCIS, solid, Hist 2/3, Nucl 2/3, 7cm R Brst 04/05 E & P + HER2+++ 05/05 Mediport 05/05 Cytoxan & Adriamycin every 3wk x4 08/05 Taxol every 2wk x 4, Herceptin every wk x1yr 10/05 Bilat Mast - my Choice 10/05 3/19 lymph nodes Pos, Stage IIIa 11/05 Rad x 37 Rx, R Brst & Axcilla 02/06 Herceptin stopped (L vent HF 40) 03/06 Started & Stoped Arimidex after 2 mos.-QOL side effects 05/06 Started Tamoxafin 06/06 Bilat Free Flap Reconstruction 12/06 Cardiomyopathy reversed-HF normal 01/07 Bilat Saline Implants 07/07 CA 27-29 steadily rising from 28 in 12/06 to 46 in 7/07 07/07 PET Scan NED, but inflamation at prev surg site. 09/07 Started Femara 10/07 CA 27-29 down to 39 06/08 CA 27-29 down to 32 09/08 Lg joint pain & QOL side effects from Femara, will live w/ to keep CA markers within normal range.