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Joan M · 02-06-2008, 09:36 PM

Mary Jo,

I'm glad your consultation went well!

You've really researched dieb flaps, which is great.

I was such a babe in the woods when I had mine done. My breast surgeon mentioned reconstruction, told me the difference between a tram flap and a diep flap and recommended a surgeon who did diep flaps (Dr. Alex Keller).

The doctor said he never did tram flaps anymore and that if during surgery he found for some reason that he couldn't do a diep flap, he didn't do any flap.

The day before the surgery he listened to the arteries in my abdomen and marked my abdomen and breast with a marker. My abdomen looked like a Super Bowl game plan when he was finished.

The surgery can take between 6 and 12 hours. My was six hours. The doctor said afterward that my surgery was easy.

I was very pleased with the results.

Joan

02-06-2008, 09:36 PM	#24
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Mary Jo, I'm glad your consultation went well! You've really researched dieb flaps, which is great. I was such a babe in the woods when I had mine done. My breast surgeon mentioned reconstruction, told me the difference between a tram flap and a diep flap and recommended a surgeon who did diep flaps (Dr. Alex Keller). The doctor said he never did tram flaps anymore and that if during surgery he found for some reason that he couldn't do a diep flap, he didn't do any flap. The day before the surgery he listened to the arteries in my abdomen and marked my abdomen and breast with a marker. My abdomen looked like a Super Bowl game plan when he was finished. The surgery can take between 6 and 12 hours. My was six hours. The doctor said afterward that my surgery was easy. I was very pleased with the results. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!