Having DIEP flap removed due to recurrence

Hi. I had a DIEP flap and BxM in 2017, both done in the same surgery. My surgery recovery was physically difficult but my boobs are fantastic. Last week I was diagnosed with a new primary BC micro papillary, and need to have surgery to remove it from my chest wall. I am unable to use the plastic surgeon who did the reconstruction. I moved and my insurance has changed.

I am trying to decide if I should (1) keep the flap and hope the Dr does a good job putting it back (it will have to be lifted out to get to the new tumor or (2) just remove the flap and have one boob. I will have chemo and radiation after surgery. I want to minimize recovery and discomfort before starting chemo & rads.

Has anyone had a recurrence behind their flap and had surgery to remove it? How did the surgery go for you? Was their any issue with the flap after the surgery?

Any words of advice are welcome.

Carpe-Diem

It's helpful to know that someone else is going through the same thing as myself. I had my surgery last week. Unfortunately the surgeon and plastic surgeon were not the same ones who did my bxm and DIEP reconstruction. When I woke from surgery I was surprised to see I had no deformation, my breast look exactly the same, only with an incision from my cleavage to middle of my right breast. The plastic surgeon put a spacer in to retain the round surface that blends in perfectly.

Hearing that radiation will cause necrosis of the reconstructed breast was not mentioned to me. Like you, I would chose to remove the construction and go flat instead of deal with infections. I will ask my doctors about the effects of radiation so I can make a choice that will in the easier outcome and fewer complications.

In March I am going to Moffitt Cancer center in Tampa to get a second opinion on my treatment plan. I will ask that doctor as well about radiation on the reconstruction.

I appreciate you sharing your experience. Best of luck and keep in touch.

Mememee

OCDAmy

my initial oncologist did an MRI every 6 months after my DIEP. I could have done a mammogram but it doesn’t pick up the chest wall. That is the likely place a recurrence would happen, so my dr did an mri to see the chest wall. I also had really good health insurance when I was first diagnosed. My health insurance is no longer a cadillac, but I spent the money for an mri in Sept w my new oncologist (after I moved). Thankfully I did.

I had a hard time finding many others who had a chest wall recurrence after bxm w DIEP flap.