Recurrence after DIEP flap surgery?

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Digezy
Digezy Member Posts: 12
edited December 2021 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

hi. I need help understand something. How can breast cancer reoccur after a mastectomy with DIEP flap if all the breast tissue was removed? There is no more breast tissue if the nipple was removed, right? I thought a DIEP flap with nipple removal pretty much guaranteed me no recurrence in that breast. Thanks.

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  • ParakeetsRule
    ParakeetsRule Member Posts: 571
    edited December 2021

    Breast cancer can return in many places. It has nothing to do with whether you have reconstruction or the type of reconstruction. It originates in breast tissue but it's common for cancer cells to hide and migrate, and pop up again.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited December 2021

    To put it simply, it is impossible to physically remove every microscopic bc cell. This is not common but it can happen regardless of the type of recon you have or no recon at all

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