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

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DL3
DL3 Member Posts: 154
edited September 2016 in Breast Reconstruction

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

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Comments

  • SanFranKitty
    SanFranKitty Member Posts: 145
    edited August 2016

    wow. It is good they found it. I myself have not experienced anything like that before but I'm sure someone here has . Sending you positive vibes

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited August 2016

    So sorry they found this hiding cancer. What has your oncologist said?

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  • BarredOwl
    BarredOwl Member Posts: 2,433
    edited August 2016

    DL3:

    Sorry to hear about that. I have no idea about this situation, but I was wondering why a plastic surgeon would perform the upcoming re-excision (due to removal of a malignant nodule during plastic surgery). Is your PS also trained as an oncology breast surgeon? I assume the intent is to achieve clean margins, which seems more up the alley of breast surgeon specialists.

    BarredOwl

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  • Cherryann0916
    Cherryann0916 Member Posts: 7
    edited September 2016

    I was told that any extra tissue taken out by my PS during reconstruction has to be sent off and looked at again for cancer. And there is always scar tissue or a little something they remove when switching out TEs for implants.

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  • Cherryann0916
    Cherryann0916 Member Posts: 7
    edited September 2016

    I was told that any extra tissue taken out by my PS during reconstruction has to be sent off and looked at again for cancer. And there is always scar tissue or a little something they remove when switching out TEs for implants. Not sure if the same is true for flap surgery.

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited September 2016

    HI Cherryann, I doubt that is the rule everywhere, maybe they do it if they see suspicious tissue. I don't think this was done during my exchange surgery.

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