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Re: breast reconstruction question
Michele,
I also had the DIEP procedure for my breast reconstruction. I did not want an implant and did not want to lose any muscle. The DIEP was the only answer for me. The biggest thing about this surgery is that you MUST go to a surgeon who has done more than 100 of these surgeries and has a very high success rate. It does involve microsurgery, but if you have an experienced surgeon, that is not a problem.
I live in Austin, but chose to go to Houston for my surgery. Dr. Spiegel has done at least 700 of these procedures over the last 8 years. It is all she does, and she is a perfectionist . . . and WONDERFUL!!! Here is the link to her website. There is a great photo album of before and after pictures of all different scenarios . . .
http://www.breastrestoration.org/
Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.
Alice
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9/15/08 (age 52) - Mammo: calcifications
9/22/08 - Biopsy: DCIS, grade 3. ER,PR status: Pos. in 75-90% of tumor cells.
10/01/08 - Ob/Gyn appt.: found complex, mostly cystic mass on right ovary - 11cmx12cmx 8cm
10/15/08 - Hysterectomy & Oophorectomy, Lumpectomy: Cyst on uterus, not ovary - all was benign. Breast - 5 of 6 bad margins. 2 Sentinel Lymph nodes removed, both negative. Stage 0, Tis, N0
12/11/08 - Mastectomy & DIEP reconstruction: Surprise! 2 cm Invasive DC, grade 2 found. One benign internal mammary lymph node. Stage 1, T1c, N0, all clean margins. ER+ (Proportion Score = 2/5, Intensity Score = 2/3) and PR+(Proportion Score = 3/5, Intensity Score = 2/3)
HER2 score = 3+
1/09/09 - Oncotype DX: Recurrence S/core of 60 !?!?! ER status is NEG!! PR staus is NEG! HER2 score = 12.2 (still positive, greater than 11.5 is positive).
1/20/09 - Started chemo: TCH
5/26/09 - FINISHED CHEMO!
1/05/10 - FINISHED HERCEPTIN!
1/22/10 - Port-a-catheter removed!
3/07/18 - Still NED
9/10/23 - Still NED
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