diabetic age 60 ... can i have DIEP?

new__me

I will be having a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in early October because i am brca2 positive. Three weeks ago i had a total hysterectomy for the same reason. I met with a breast surgeon today. The same surgeon who did the bilateral mastectomy last month on my sister's cancerous breast.

My sister chose expanders with implants for her immediate recon. I would prefer DIEP. Will meet with PS next week. I got the impression from the breast surgeon today that i might not want to consider DIEP because of my age and (generally well controlled) insulin dependent diabetes. I am in good health 5'4" 117 lbs 60 yrs old. Has anyone had any personal experience? I really do not want implants. I have a good size 'meno pot' for a belly so finding fat not a problem lol. I am completely healed from the surgery on 9/1. That was a 3 hour robotic surgery. I teally need advice doon. I want to have these breasts removed ASAP before cancer hitd. I already lost a sister to bc and now another has it. I am frightened.

besa

About age: I had a prophylactic mastectomy and ns sGAP reconstruction in New Orleans at age 58 (sGAP is a more complex surgery than DIEP) without any problems. I did not have any complicating (non bc) medical issues. My age was never even discussed when it came to this surgery. I meet women in their early 60s scheduled for DIEPs or sGAPS in the waiting room.

A great place to post questions about tissue reconstructions (DIEP sGAP etc) is Dr. DellaCroce's "Ask the Doctor" web site - see link below.

http://members.boardhost.com/plastic/

When it comes to getting opinions about a possible diep reconstruction you should see a ps who does high volume dieps on a regular basis.