small nodule found during reconstruction...... it is cancer

DL3

Hello ladies, I had my DIEP flap done 8/3/16 . I am thrilled with my PS. I did TCHP chemo, mastectomy, radiation and herceptin last year 2015 I am a Her2+ gal. zero nodes removed , stage 3 (herceptin ended 4/16 this year)

Today I went for follow up with PS down to one more drain... yay me...however my PS sat with me today to tell me...... while PS was performing DIEP he found a nodule in mastectomy breast during my reconstruction and informed me today pathology confirmed it is cancer. I believe plan will be because it is a small nodule (PS didnt give me size I didnt ask as I was STUNNED with the news) I will have either a PET or CT scan, then PS will perform another surgery within couple weeks to go in and remove all tissue around area where he removed the nodule. I am so down about this news yet.... I am so very very grateful that my PS found this nodule and removed it and sounds as tho got it very early. I am wondering if any other of you ladies have been in similar where your surgeon found more cancer during reconstruction surgery... whether /DIEP flap or implants.......as happend to me?

Thank you

stephincanada

Hi DL3:

I am so sorry to hear that this happened to you. The plastic surgeon I plan on using had the following comments written about her in a patient review:

"I am more than pleased with the outcome from a plastic surgery standpoint and, while she was performing the reconstruction operation, she also found and removed some breast cancer cells that had not been detected previously. To summarize: she made me feel good about myself; she made me look the way I hoped I would post-cancer; and she removed life-threatening cancer cells. I would say that's an A+ rating".

I have heard that surgeons can't remove 100% of the breast tissue during a mastectomy. This explains why a mastectomy greatly reduces your chance of developing a recurrence or a second breast cancer, but doesn't eliminate the risk completely.

SSInUK

I know this is an okd thread - but it happened to me. My PS found IM nodes with cancer in during Diep surgery. I wish it had been a nodule not more nodes so maybe take heart at that at least! But I know how you feel. So horrible

Denise-G

My sister is having a DIEP in a few weeks. I went with her to the consult with the breast surgeon and PS. Breast surgeon ordered a breast MRI before DIEP because she said recently had a two cases where cancer was found in opposite breast which entailed more surgery. She is now trying to know as much as she can before surgery.