Posts DIEP Reconstructive questions

[Lovemyboys3]

Hi All,

I wanted to see if I can get some feedback from people who have had the DIEP Reconstructive surgery. I am about 12wks out from my surgery and in the last few weeks I began having burning/stabbing pains in my left breast (the one that started this mess that is.) The pain comes and goes and is in different areas but mostly in one or two different areas. Sometimes they take my breath away and other times its just plain annoying. This breast also feels very different from the right one. Its quite a bit more firm and I have absolutely no sensation. Where as the right side is much softer and although I don't have a lot of sensation I do have some. The firmness has really made me nervous as it just feels very different and of course everything runs through my mind of what it could be. Its not hard just firm. I did talk to my Onc and she sent me for an ultrasound to be sure. The ultrasound showed a few oil cysts and possible fatty necrosis all benign findings is what the results said. But for some reason it just hasn't eased my mind. I have an appointment to see my PS but that is not for another few weeks as he didn't have any openings and didn't feel there was anything urgent he needed to address. Any how, has anyone had these strange feelings in there breast after surgery? What does Fatty Necrosis feel like? Why does my left breast feel so very different from my right? I am so grateful that my Onc sent me for the Ultrasound but I just can't shake this feeling which I guess just comes this the territory of cancer. Would they be able to see everything including thickness or cancer if it was there in the ultrasound?

As always so many questions and any advice is greatly appreciated.

['lizbeth]

I found this explanation online:

After breast surgery (http://breastcancer.about.com/od/treatments/a/surgery_overv.htm) or after a breast injury -- from sports, accidents, or a seat belt burn -- you may develop a lump. These types of breast lumps (http://breastcancer.about.com/od/risk/a/lump_overview.htm) are called breast fat necrosis, because they are made of bruised, injured, or dead fatty tissue.
The problem with fat necrosis in the breast is that it often looks like breast cancer, even though it is benign. Fat necrosis may take many forms and is hard to diagnose. Take a look at the symptoms, causes, and treatments for breast fat necrosis.

What is Fat Necrosis of the Breast?

Fat necrosis is a benign condition (http://breastcancer.about.com/od/whenitsnotcancer/a/benign_condtns.htm) that can occur in your breast. It consists of fatty tissue that has been bruised, injured, or has died. Fat necrosis can result after any type of breast surgery, from biopsy to reconstruction (http://breastcancer.about.com/od/reconstructivesurgery/tp/br_recon_hub.htm). Once fatty tissue has been injured or has died, it can gradually change into scar tissue or may collect as liquid within an oil cyst (http://breastcancer.about.com/od/whenitsnotcancer/f/oil-cysts.htm). Fat necrosis does not lead to the development of breast cancer, but it may sometimes cause breast pain (http://breastcancer.about.com/od/risk/tp/Breast-Pain-Cyclical-Noncyclical.htm).

[Jackie07]

Here's one of the threads discussing DIEP (You can do a 'Search' to locate more):

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=58516&highlight=DIEP

Hopefully those who with the DIEP experience will see your thread and share their experience here.

Another thread: http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=59261&highlight=diep+flap

[linn65]

Hi There,

I had DIEP flap 10 week Wednesday. I know they said the nerves in that area are trying to wake up so......They try, and try and then bam the nerve gets tired of it and boom a quick and sharp pain hits you. It goes away as soon as it comes. I have had those now and then.

My left side is much firmer than my right side but after the first of the year they are going to do a Nip and Tuck surgery to make them more symetrical. I was just thinking this morning when my bra and shirt are on it is starting to feel more like another breast.

It is a process for sure!!!