DIEP 2013
Comments
-
sbe/Katy - I love the note you left on your belly before surgery about your granddaughter. It brought tears to my eyes. I hope to someday hold and know my grandbabies too. My kids are only 19 and 16.
-
Have not posted for a few days - WOW - so much going on!
Goldie, first of all I have to tell you that I am so happy for you. I guess it is not totally what you wanted to hear re: those nodules, but hey, it's not cancer. YAYYYY!!!!!!!!
Cherrie, you have me worried now with this deafness story. I am a little deaf, but I chalk it up to 21 years of long hours practising pipe organ - it can be very loud. Then the other factor is that my dad had Alzheimers. I'm on Tamoxifen, but cannot really say that I am more deaf than before. It's been only a year though, so 4 more to come. I'm more worried about my eyesight. It seems as if I'm not seeing as well as I did before. This ride just goes on and on - always a new worry!
Sbel, I succeeded in staying upright in the pew, but it was really hard - LOL. Good thing I was not part of the music team last Sunday. You need to be sharp and fully awake for that - lol.
Aspinner, I agree that it is better to have a good cry and let it out. To keep your feelings bottled up does way more harm than good. The old people were wise, but they were wrong about this. There is a reason we have the ability to cry. I for one always feel better afterwards, issues seem to be clearer, and decisions become a little easier.
Nihahi, have to agree with the others here. Would love to have you in my corner when I have to deal with medical staff again. So often during bc have I felt that I was not being heard, was not given enough time with the docs to ask questions, and most often left their offices feeling so unsatisfied with what just went down. I hardly ever asked a question because I felt I was wasting their oh so precious time - lol. What I know about bc is what I learned here on these threads - it's better than any doctor, I think. Fortunately I don't feel like that with my PS. Maybe it is because she is a warm, kind, caring WOMAN? Just connected with her so much better than the male docs.
I'm also not a fan of Pinktober. It just does not sit right with me.
-
Marty, maybe it is any added pain I am worried about. I just want to be done.
-
Jeannie - I totally understand. The good thing about the lipo pain is that it only lasts a few days, though as a redhead I bruise really well and it lasts longer than others. I guess what I am saying is if you can get everything done with this next surgery what are a few painful days compared to the end result. Okay, enough said. I will be having my last go around in December and will be asking her to lipo anything she sees. I can deal with the pain for a few days. I will never have this opportunity again.
-
Jeannie if I picked up my tamoxifen and it had a pink cap I would be so annoyed!!!
-
Marty, I hear what you're saying. I went into this wanting new boobs, with the added bonus of a tummy tuck. I am satisfied with that. Getting my thighs and butt in shape is something I'll work on myself, but if I don't cause changes I will still be satisfied with my cellulite-ridden, slightly pudgy warrior body. I honor all perspectives here. This is mine.
-
Whether you do lipo, or not is a choice. But, one thing you must remember is that when they lipo they remove the fat cells, and fat will not grow in those areas again. So, if you gain weight you will gain more in other areas. I have seen it in real life with a friend of mine, and I have heard about it many times on various talk shows, etc. Most of the women on this forum who have lipo have very little done, but if you go for big areas be prepared to watch you weight carefully for the rest of you life, which I hope is very long.
SBE: Finally watched the video. You are so blessed to have a husband that adores you like that, and you him. You are very brave to have let the media into your life during such an intimate and crueling time. I hope it helps a lot of women, which I know is the reason you did it. Bless you. Oh, and btw...thanks for the pep talk earlier today.
Liefie, thank you. We are very happy.
-
Goldie, I am very blessed in many ways, and I am very thankful! For me, it's important to keep all this in perspective. The diagnosis of breast cancer was terrifying...devastating...but Jerry and I have slogged through these last two years together. Our children are healthy, we are employed, we have a new grandbaby, and God loves us.
If sharing last two years of breast cancer treatment with the whole county the will help just one woman get through her own journey, or remember to schedule her mammogram, then it's worth it.
-
sbe....LOVE the header photo of you and Aubrey. I can't get into the main article, and would love to read it. How do I do that??? Hope the wound vac and drugs are doing a number on that celllulitis!!!!!
jeannie...not that lipo is freely offered as part of breast recon in Canada, but I feel very much the same as you. Granted...I don't have lots of excess "stuffing", but like any woman my age, there certainly is some. (all those potato chips have to end up somewhere!). I had no interest in being "reconstructed" to be a certain bra/cup size, and I don't appear to be someone who will need fat "grafting" to fill in, or fill out areas to have a gloob I'm happy with. If I needed to have the lipo, to be happy with the gloob, that is a different scenario.
In my mind/heart conversations, I know there are so many areas of my life that bc has touched, without my "permission". If I don't "need" to have the recon "process" touch parts of my body outside of the chest and tummy of free flap recon.....I don't want it. It is my way of controlling what I can in this bc journey, and in being responsible for the "shape and look" of the body parts I have some influence on. Am I happy with no longer having the tummy pouch of menopause....of course I am. If I could have magically had a gloob created (a real one, not an implant) without involving another part of my body......sign me up!
I feel my body is an honest reflection of my age and my heritage. The bodyparts that "look good" are the parts that tend to reflect the healthy lifestyle I try to live. It feels "authentic". It fits me.
Like so many, many other aspects of this journey....we can celebrate our differences of opinions, just as well as our "sameness".
-
Yes, Nihahi. I am of the same mind, I think. But I can always change it! I don't think I will but nice to know I can. I think what you said about bc intruding on various areas of your life w/o "permission" struck a chord with me. I want to keep it confined to my torso---I can control that. I am working on accepting my body's appearance as I age ---bc notwithstanding--so that's part of it, too. I have three daughters and a granddaughter so I feel a responsibility to be the kind of example I want to be for them. I do totally understand others' desires to get everything done that is available to them. It is an unusual opportunity, I agree. It's natural to want to look as good as you can. I just want to be responsible for most of it and not give that to another doctor. Of course, eating molasses cookies is not helping....
-
jeannie...but it's fall....molasses cookies...ooooohhhh, perfect treat for a crisp fall day! I made pumpkin bread the other day....yuuuummy!
kuka...tomorrow you get to put your big girl clothes on!!! Hope it goes well and turns out to be what you hoped for.
sweet....did you get that lympha appt yet???
bailey...I got you added to the list! Hope you are feeling good by Christmas...if not, it's a great time of year to sit in your pj's and watch the snow coming down.
good night all.....hugs!!!!!
-
Sbel, although I wasn't able to read the article I did click onto the video on the right side of the page when I recognized your face and was able to watch that. You and your husband have a lovely bond. It made me tearful with happiness. Thanks for sharing.
-
Nahahi- nope, still waiting to hear but I did find a primary care doctor to check out my thyroid, I see them on the 14th. Also, still no word on approval of stage two and ooph which stinks.
-
sweet....but...that's some progress, so GOOD FOR YOU!
-
Nahahi... Wound is about closed! I am still wearing compression, but do you think I need to wear it at night also? Thanks for your advice.
-
Katy! Loved the story, the photos --even the gross one--- the video. What a helpful example to women everywhere. Thanks for sharing it with us, too. We definitely got to put more than just a face to the name! I'm not putting you on a pedestal but you are a rock star!
-
mammalou...you caught me just as I was about to shut it down for the night.
If it was me, I would wear it night and day until after the wound has been closed for a couple days. Then, just during the day, but not at night. If things stay "happy", then I would suggest weaning yourself out of it by wearing it a bit less time each day. But, it's just my opinion.
ok....truly going to turn off the laptop now. Sleep well everyone.
-
Thank you😊
I value your opinion! -
Trauma nurse Katy Hadduck grateful to be grandmother after struggle with breast cancer
- By Kim Lamb Gregory
- Posted September 30, 2013 at 7:15 p.m
PHOTO BY KAREN QUINCY LOBERG, KAREN QUINCY LOBERG // BUY THIS PHOTO
KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR Katy Hadduck, of Simi Valley, said that when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she thought she would never live to become a grandmother. Two years and several aggressive treatments later, she holds her infant grandchild, Aubrey Rose Hadduck, at the home of her son Tyson and his wife, Julie, in Van Nuys.
Katy Hadduck cradled her sleeping granddaughter, born July 27. Aubrey Hadduck’s tiny fist was balled against her grandma’s chest as she slept on Hadduck’s shoulder.
“Being a grandma is pretty close to heaven,” Hadduck wrote on Facebook later.
When Hadduck was diagnosed with breast cancer Oct. 20, 2011, one of her biggest fears was not living long enough to become a grandma. Hadduck’s twin sons, Tyson and Tom, were 30 at the time, both married.
“When I first found the red spot on my breast, I was pretty sure of what it was and pretty sure I had a limited time to live,” said Hadduck, who will be 58 on Oct. 14.
On Oct. 19 — almost two years to the day from her breast cancer diagnosis — Hadduck will be the featured speaker at the Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center’s Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar at the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library & Museum.
The Star has been following the Simi Valley trauma nurse from her first biopsy to her mastectomy, through chemotherapy, radiation and breast reconstruction. She shared her experience to let women know what it’s really like to fight breast cancer.
“I want to let women know that this whole rodeo is completely doable,” Hadduck said. “It’s not like you see in the movies where they’re hanging their heads in the toilet.”
Hadduck, who is the trauma systems manager for the Ventura County Emergency Medical Services Agency and a former helicopter flight nurse, hastened to add that every woman’s experience is different and that some have it rougher than others but that numerous drugs are available to ease the rough spots.
Nobody knows about the rough spots quite like Hadduck.
“If I never see the ceiling of another operating room again, it will be too soon,” she said.
On April 15, Hadduck waited on a gurney in a curtained room in Los Robles’ preoperative area. She was preparing for a 12-hour surgery in which Dr. Maggie Kademian would remove her remaining right breast. The left breast, which contained the tumor, had been removed in 2012. Then, Dr. James Watson would reconstruct both breasts using fat from Hadduck’s abdomen, giving Hadduck a tummy tuck as a bonus.
“I’m happy as a clam,” Hadduck said as she sat in the room with her husband of 36 years, Jerry Hadduck. “The other surgeries were designed to save my life. This is designed to make me feel pretty.”
Watson, who practices in Thousand Oaks, is among the surgeons who know how to perform a so-called DIEP flap breast reconstruction. DIEP stands for “deep inferior epigastric perforators.” These are the blood vessels transferred from the abdomen, along with the skin and fat.
Watson, who has done this type of surgery for 12 years at UCLA Medical School, said the survival rate of the transferred tissue is about 99.3 percent.
“We’re going to take the tissue normally taken and thrown away during a tummy tuck, and we’re going to transfer it to the breast,” Watson said. “We’re going to transfer one small artery and one small vein for each side.”
With microsurgery in which the vessels are magnified 20 to 25 times, Watson used a coupling device and sutures to splice together the abdominal vein and artery to existing veins and arteries in Hadduck’s chest.
Hadduck healed from the April surgery, and the fat and blood vessels settled into their new home on her chest with just one major complication in early August. An infection near the surgery site sent Hadduck to the hospital for five days of intravenous antibiotics.
On Aug. 29, Watson sculpted the breasts to look more natural by making an incision under them and manipulating the fat until it was the cup size and shape Hadduck requested.
In late November, Hadduck will undergo minor surgery in which doctors use excess skin to create nipples on the new breasts.
“It’s simple origami,” Watson said, explaining how he folds the skin into a new nipple. “It’s oversized at first, but it shrinks.”
Hadduck will have one more minor surgery early next year to remove scar tissue created on her back by the radiation, but the worst is over. Now she and Jerry are getting accustomed to what is now normal.
As they always have, Katy and Jerry still pound their mountain bikes over the dirt paths of Simi Valley, having contests as to who can point out more rattlesnakes. They are devoted to their weekly Bible study group and seeing Tyson, his wife, Julie, and Aubrey, who live in the San Fernando Valley. Tom Hadduck lives in Northern California, so visits are less frequent.
But some things are permanently changed.
“There are times when I look in the mirror when I am naked, and it’s pretty remarkable,” Hadduck said. “Physically it has changed me a lot. I’m missing body parts that were very important to me.”
The possibility of recurrence is also part of what is now normal life for Hadduck and her family.
“It’s: Is this twinge in my back bone cancer? Is that twinge in my stomach liver cancer?” Hadduck said. “The fear of cancer never normalizes. The elephant in the room turns into a magazine rack in the corner, but it never leaves.”
Jerry, 59, is not the same either.
“I feel very much like we had breast cancer together,” Jerry said.
Besides being by her side for surgeries and treatments and acting as the “humble consort” to her “queen” as their marital parry goes, Jerry made every gesture he could to support her.
When she broke down and cried, or got “the shivers,” as she called her fear, Jerry would hold her until it passed.
In the beginning, Katy was so depressed. She didn’t feel as if she could get enough light, she said, so when the sun set, Jerry would turn on every light in the house.
“One good aspect of this is: My husband and I are deeply, irretrievably, nutty in love,” she said.
Katy knows to get enough sleep, exercise and eat good food, and she knows what matters.
“I am not my breasts,” she said. “In other ways, it has made my life more valuable and poignant.”
Like the night she watched her granddaughter born to Tyson and Julie.
“I’ve seen about a million babies born, but when the doctor held Aubrey up for us to see, it was like heaven opened and a shining ray of love-light burst on me, angel chorus and all,” Katy said.
When the nurses in the operating room removed the blanket over Katy during her August surgery, they laughed when they saw the note Katy had taped to her stomach. They opened the note, which was a thank-you note and a photo of baby Aubrey. It read in part:
“Because of my amazing team of physicians and nurses and many others, I beat breast cancer and lived to be her grandma.”
-
So, here it is. I got a cut and paste thing from the news. There are a couple of things on the online article that aren't here--a great video, a photo of the DIEP, but this is the body of it. Katy
-
I am scheduled for Deip (or Tram im not sure) surgery in two weeks and the anxiety is building! Anyone who had it..are you happy with the results? Is it natural feeling and looking? How was the recovery for you? Im new to the site and trying to navigate all the great posts. Im a planner and Im trying to make sure i am as prepared as possible for what Im getting into.
-
A pink cap on a bottle of Tamoxifen is like preaching to the converted! LOL! My 2c on Pinktober - From a commercial perspective, it's a con, a money-grab designed to get money out of people while making them think they are doing something worthwhile. From a human perspective, it should be about doing something visible that simply raises awareness and gives women a nudge to get a mammogram or do their self exams etc. To that end, I'm going to make pink macarons and post them on my recipe blog in the hope that one of my readers will be spurred into taking care of themselves. Just a reminder, nothing more.
-
Will read your article at break Katy! Thanks for posting here. You are just the best!
I came to say I am thinking of Bluebird this morning....She has been quiet. I bet she is having a ball with "Action Jackson".....the new puppy! Hoping so! -
Katy- You are my hero! I am so glad you were bave enough to put yourself out there like that because I know there will be loves saved because of it! You and that grandbaby are just gorgeous!!!!!! :-)
-
butterfleyez - welcome! Lots of good information in this thread. I can only speak for myself but I am very happy with my results. My new breast feels very close to real and looks great, and I haven't even gone back for my revision yet. If it were not for the scarring it would be tough to tell it wasn't original equipment. This is a rough surgery to recover from but the results can be amazing!
Massaging my breast this morning (to reduce scar tissue) and realized that the big, hard areas of scar tissue inside my breast have really been reduced. They are hard to find now and the insides are mostly soft at this point. I had an especially large hard area on the underside that I did not expect to go away and it's totally gone. Woo hoo!!!
-
Christina, any tips on massaging? I have a really hard area too and would like it to go away! Do you knead or rub or what?
-
Sbel, what a remarkable story, and what courage to share it with the world. I can so identify with you, and your feelings of despair at diagnosis. Now, like you, I am looking forward to the birth of my first grandchild in early March next year. I won't wish bc on anyone. All I can say is that it definitely seperates the wheat from the chaff, and after an experience like this one knows to be grateful for every single day, and for every blessing coming your way. TOWANDA! Life is good.
-
Yes, ladies, LIFE IS GOOD
Thank you for sharing your story with all of us, Katy. -
sbe....you are beyond amazing! Thanks for both sharing yourself and your family and this amazing journey with others, and thanks for posting it here for us. You represent us in ways no one who has not been down this road ever could. How's things with "farty and drippy"????
butterfl...I read your message here after I replied to your pm. I'll get you on our list. This is a very honest and open group of ladies, and each of our experiences has been different. You'll likely find that you go through bits and pieces of each of our experiences. I am beyond happy with my recon. I have been extremely lucky, in that complications seem to have passed me by. (wish it was that way for all of us). I wouldn't describe my recovery (once I got post-op nausea controlled) rough at all, because I didn't have excessive pain or healing issues) but it certainly did seem long and drawn out, to get my endurance, strength and activity levels back to normal. But, looking back now, I would say considering all the surgical "stuff" that is this type of recon...the time it took me was pretty understandable. The best advice going into this that I could give you or any woman, is to go into it with as positive an attitude as you can muster. AND PATIENCE!!! For awhile, I would get frustrated each day, because I felt I was still struggling, still feeling weak and "dependent". The turning point for me, came when I looked "back" and I could recognize the progress I was making. Read as much of the past messages as you can....you'll get incredible info and support! (my lord, I'm getting wordy!!!)
lahela....you've been keeping secrets!!! Recipe blog...do tell!!!!
christina...sounds like things are really great with you!!!!
Enjoy your fall weather ladies....there is now a possibility of snow (yes SNOW) here tomorrow....not up in the mountains....HERE!!!! Guess I'll spend some time today digging out the sweaters and longjohns!!! (sob). But, that means that skiing is just around the corner (Hooray!)
Have good days, everyone.
-
Holy moly, I just found out my Stage II is on October 16th, two weeks from now!!!
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team