HonCode

Go Back   HER2 Support Group Forums > her2group
Register Gallery FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-05-2014, 06:59 AM   #1
linn65
Senior Member
 
linn65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Attica, IN
Posts: 371
DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

Good Morning,

This is me Ms. Question asker!! Guess what I have another QUESTION!! Go figure.

On April 18th I am scheduled for Phase II and III of my DIEP flap surgery (I asked if he could do nip/tuck and new nipple at the same time instead of 2 surgeries)!! And my HOTTIE PS said yes.

Anyway, he said your right breast is......What every girl wants to hear.....Anesthetically pleasing! LOL. He said if you want the right side lifted than I can do that but he will need to cut around the nipple and then from the bottom of the nipple to wear your underwire there will be another incision.

I looked at him and said you are the doctor what do you think??? He had me stand up and he said they match pretty good, so I do not think you need to do anything with it unless you want too. He said go home and think about it, look in the mirror and if you want me to give the right a little lift I will do whatever you want....

My first thought was NO WAY I don't want another dang incision/scar/battle wound whatever you want to call it or any pain on my right breast.

Now, today I am thinking okay, I need voices of wisdom that have done the DIEP, kept 1 breast and did they get it lifted or leave as is???

Thank you in advance!!!

To achieve great we must communicate
__________________
myleftlump.wordpress.com - started blogging my
IDC breast cancer
7/2012 diagnosed with multiple solid lesions
7/20/12 biopsy done. ER+ 30 PR -, HER+++,k167 80% Grade 2
9/2012 biopsy on lymph node - showed malignant

9/2012 Pre-adjunctive TCH chemo.

12/6/12 MRI after Pre-adj.
Results: Modest Decrease in size of left breast malignancy As well as the associated satellite lesions and auxiliary Adenopathy compared to prior study. Doctors hoped for better but good response it didn't grow.

12/18/2012 left masectomy with axillary nodes
Size 3.2 CM, Nottingham score 9/9
Grade 3, no evidence of in situ carcinoma
Areas of angiolymphatic are identified
Carcinoma is 0.5 cm from inked deep
Margin of excision
Attached axillary lymph nodes: metastatic
Carcinoma in 6 of 8 nodes.
Size of largest node 1.5 cm
Extracapsular
ER + 73%, PR+2%, HER2+

2/27/13 6 weeks of IMRT radiation finished

2/2013 Started on Tamoxifan 5 years.

8/2013 will take last Herceptin, 17 treatments total every 3 weeks.

BRCA1 & BRAC2 - Negative

August 28, 2013 DIEP flap on the left breast.
February 2014 Nip & Tuck
March 14, 2014 nipple reconstruction and removed port.
August 14, 2014 lump in lymph nodes under arm and above clavicle. Stage IV
August 28, 2014 herceptin And projeta starting and port put back in.

3/18/15 stopped arimidex.
3/18/15 progression....Tdm1
linn65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 05:48 AM   #2
Pray
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,173
Re: DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

Hi had a tram flap done and had the other lifted. Very glad I did. I was very big in the first place and for my self I don't know how they could have done better than if I hadn't. I pray all goes well for you. One little piece of info. it really takes 6 months or longer for your surgery site to settle and soften up. You will see many changes as time passes. (in my case anyway.
__________________
dx 11/12/09 IDCI
Stage 3a
ER 98% PR 80%
Her2 +3
4/12 nodes
6 rounds TCH
Herceptin 12 months 3weeks
Rad. 30 tx
Tamoxifin 6 months stopped
Arimedex stopped 9/12 (side effects)
Aromasin 10/12
Pray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 06:14 AM   #3
Lauriesh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Lakeville, Minnesota
Posts: 199
Re: DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

I also had my other breast reduced and lifted, and I now have loss of sensation in that breast. It is not supposed to be permanent, but in my case it was.
I don't know if that is something you are concerned about, but if it is, know there is a risk .

Laurie
__________________
diagnosed stage 2- 3/2005
4.5 cm & 2+ nodes , er/pr- & HER2+
4 AC
12 taxol/Herceptin
Year of Herceptin
liver mets- July-2010
7 taxotere/Herceptin
RFA- Feb.2011
NED
U of Wa vaccine trial-oct 2011-Feb 2012
Herceptin/tykerb
Ned - 2 1/2 years
Herceptin & perjeta
Ned 3 years
Herceptin- reducing treatments , due to s/e, to 5-6 a year
NED- 3 1/2 years
Ned - 4 years
2/15- stopped herceptin - on no treatment
Lauriesh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 11:43 AM   #4
linn65
Senior Member
 
linn65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Attica, IN
Posts: 371
Re: DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

My PS said he felt the right didn't need anything done to it.....He said I could go home and if I felt different and wanted a little lift he would do it but didnt think I needed it. He said they would have to cut around the nipple and then a incision at the bottom of the nipple to surgically give it a lift.....Well, I have had enough incisions, and I said if he is good with it then so am I.
__________________
myleftlump.wordpress.com - started blogging my
IDC breast cancer
7/2012 diagnosed with multiple solid lesions
7/20/12 biopsy done. ER+ 30 PR -, HER+++,k167 80% Grade 2
9/2012 biopsy on lymph node - showed malignant

9/2012 Pre-adjunctive TCH chemo.

12/6/12 MRI after Pre-adj.
Results: Modest Decrease in size of left breast malignancy As well as the associated satellite lesions and auxiliary Adenopathy compared to prior study. Doctors hoped for better but good response it didn't grow.

12/18/2012 left masectomy with axillary nodes
Size 3.2 CM, Nottingham score 9/9
Grade 3, no evidence of in situ carcinoma
Areas of angiolymphatic are identified
Carcinoma is 0.5 cm from inked deep
Margin of excision
Attached axillary lymph nodes: metastatic
Carcinoma in 6 of 8 nodes.
Size of largest node 1.5 cm
Extracapsular
ER + 73%, PR+2%, HER2+

2/27/13 6 weeks of IMRT radiation finished

2/2013 Started on Tamoxifan 5 years.

8/2013 will take last Herceptin, 17 treatments total every 3 weeks.

BRCA1 & BRAC2 - Negative

August 28, 2013 DIEP flap on the left breast.
February 2014 Nip & Tuck
March 14, 2014 nipple reconstruction and removed port.
August 14, 2014 lump in lymph nodes under arm and above clavicle. Stage IV
August 28, 2014 herceptin And projeta starting and port put back in.

3/18/15 stopped arimidex.
3/18/15 progression....Tdm1
linn65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 01:09 PM   #5
Shirley
Senior Member
 
Shirley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Lakewood, WA
Posts: 56
Re: DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

Linn,

I was told I could get a "lift" on my healthy breast, so that it matches my fake one. My thought was "heck yes" I want that. I want to look as good as possible, and at age 55 I could use some uplifting! Your post reminds me that I need to ask more questions about the lift and exactly what it entails. The docs are always kind of vague about the details.

Shirley
__________________
  • Age 54 at dx (April '13) Stage 2b, grade 3
  • ER+ PR+ HER+, 9 cm tumor one breast and <0.5 cm in sentinal node
  • BRCA1 and 2 negative
  • Neoadjuvant TCH chemo started 5-15-13 (4 rounds, 3 weeks apart)
  • Unilateral Mx w/expander 8-22-13 (right side)
  • 5/5 nodes Neg
  • clear margins but close. Tumor at removal down to 2.2 cm.
  • Radiation 6 wks starting 10-17-13.
  • Herceptin every 3 weeks until 4-23-14
  • DIEP/Mastopexy 10-8-14, U of WA
Shirley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 01:20 PM   #6
linn65
Senior Member
 
linn65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Attica, IN
Posts: 371
Re: DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

Shirely,

I don't think my "real" breast is anything special. The PS said my right breast was rather large and anesthically pleasing...I am a 36D. He did do a great job matching them up, and for some reason I truly trust him and his judgement. When he told me about those two incisions all I thought was more scars....geez. I am cut hip to hip, new left breast sown on and more on the right side....Not this time!!

I asked him if there was some sort of statute of limitations on a lift and he said NOPE I can have one 1 or 3 years from now!!

I am just soooo excited to get it done and he is going to remove my PORT!!! I will be done!!!!!!!! Well, you know besides tamox, but I feel like I will be human again!!
__________________
myleftlump.wordpress.com - started blogging my
IDC breast cancer
7/2012 diagnosed with multiple solid lesions
7/20/12 biopsy done. ER+ 30 PR -, HER+++,k167 80% Grade 2
9/2012 biopsy on lymph node - showed malignant

9/2012 Pre-adjunctive TCH chemo.

12/6/12 MRI after Pre-adj.
Results: Modest Decrease in size of left breast malignancy As well as the associated satellite lesions and auxiliary Adenopathy compared to prior study. Doctors hoped for better but good response it didn't grow.

12/18/2012 left masectomy with axillary nodes
Size 3.2 CM, Nottingham score 9/9
Grade 3, no evidence of in situ carcinoma
Areas of angiolymphatic are identified
Carcinoma is 0.5 cm from inked deep
Margin of excision
Attached axillary lymph nodes: metastatic
Carcinoma in 6 of 8 nodes.
Size of largest node 1.5 cm
Extracapsular
ER + 73%, PR+2%, HER2+

2/27/13 6 weeks of IMRT radiation finished

2/2013 Started on Tamoxifan 5 years.

8/2013 will take last Herceptin, 17 treatments total every 3 weeks.

BRCA1 & BRAC2 - Negative

August 28, 2013 DIEP flap on the left breast.
February 2014 Nip & Tuck
March 14, 2014 nipple reconstruction and removed port.
August 14, 2014 lump in lymph nodes under arm and above clavicle. Stage IV
August 28, 2014 herceptin And projeta starting and port put back in.

3/18/15 stopped arimidex.
3/18/15 progression....Tdm1
linn65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 02:55 PM   #7
'lizbeth
Senior Member
 
'lizbeth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
Re: DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

OH MY GOSH - did your hot PS really say "Anesthetically pleasing!" or did he say "Aesthetically pleasing". I am rolling on the floor here.

The first spelling suggests that perhaps he would like to do more surgery, and it was a minor slip of the tongue. The 2nd means he really likes it!

I hate scars. I hope I avoid major scarring when I have the other breast lifted and reduced. Yuck.

But over time - gravity wins, so maybe a delay on the matching surgery?
'lizbeth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 07:56 AM   #8
linn65
Senior Member
 
linn65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Attica, IN
Posts: 371
Re: DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

He said aesthetically pleasing and he would do nothing with my right breast!! He is a perfectionist, so I think he is really wanting to match my left one the one he created......He likes his creation and the natural one is pretty good. He said I could do just a little lift if I wanted but he did not think I need too.

I am going to try and sweet talk him before I go in......And say you know you have that lipo machine out can you just go ahead and lipo a little on the back of my legs too!!! I mean I have went through and awful lot to get to this final surgery!!! bwahahahaa
__________________
myleftlump.wordpress.com - started blogging my
IDC breast cancer
7/2012 diagnosed with multiple solid lesions
7/20/12 biopsy done. ER+ 30 PR -, HER+++,k167 80% Grade 2
9/2012 biopsy on lymph node - showed malignant

9/2012 Pre-adjunctive TCH chemo.

12/6/12 MRI after Pre-adj.
Results: Modest Decrease in size of left breast malignancy As well as the associated satellite lesions and auxiliary Adenopathy compared to prior study. Doctors hoped for better but good response it didn't grow.

12/18/2012 left masectomy with axillary nodes
Size 3.2 CM, Nottingham score 9/9
Grade 3, no evidence of in situ carcinoma
Areas of angiolymphatic are identified
Carcinoma is 0.5 cm from inked deep
Margin of excision
Attached axillary lymph nodes: metastatic
Carcinoma in 6 of 8 nodes.
Size of largest node 1.5 cm
Extracapsular
ER + 73%, PR+2%, HER2+

2/27/13 6 weeks of IMRT radiation finished

2/2013 Started on Tamoxifan 5 years.

8/2013 will take last Herceptin, 17 treatments total every 3 weeks.

BRCA1 & BRAC2 - Negative

August 28, 2013 DIEP flap on the left breast.
February 2014 Nip & Tuck
March 14, 2014 nipple reconstruction and removed port.
August 14, 2014 lump in lymph nodes under arm and above clavicle. Stage IV
August 28, 2014 herceptin And projeta starting and port put back in.

3/18/15 stopped arimidex.
3/18/15 progression....Tdm1
linn65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-23-2014, 07:08 PM   #9
harrie
Senior Member
 
harrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
Re: DIEP Flap Peeps/surgery/questions as usual

My end result with my DIEP is that rt side is about 1 cm lower then my lt side. My plastic surgeon, who is a perfectionist, said he could correct it with another surgery. I opted to leave it all as it. It is not noticeable unless I stand in front of the mirror and stare at it. I am fine with the way it is and preferred not to undergo another surgery. I am told most people with natural breasts do not have perfectly symmetrical breasts anyways.
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE

1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen

2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy

2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
harrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright HER2 Support Group 2007 - 2021
free webpage hit counter