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Are there any medical advantages to going flat over doing DIEP flap?
Are there any medical advantages to going flat over doing DIEP flap? I am having a hard time deciding whether to go flat or have the DIEP flap surgery. I am 60 years old. I am scheduled to have the DIEP surgery in July and I am worried about the pain and recovery time. I am a teacher and school starts the beginning of August, so I feel the pressure from parents that I need to be there, so going flat would allow me to start the school year. I already feel that the chemo has aged me, and I am worried that going flat will not help my feelings about myself. Any guidance would be appreciated.
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I wonder if the school would allow you to “volunteer” in your classroom for an hour or so a few days a week during your recovery? As long as you’re interested in giving your time to this.
It would help form a relationship with the children and perhaps ease the concern the parents have.
There’s no guarantee that any teacher might have a medical issue that prevents them from being in the classroom. Car accidents happen, major medical diseases get diagnosed - you just can’t plan your best health decision with the idea that you can prevent missing classrooms time. Stuff happens.
At 60 you have a lot of life to live yet. It’s good that you’re considering your needs! It’s wonderful that you want to provide the best teaching situation - but our best laid hope and plans often get disrupted by things beyond our control. Would the parents be more understanding if you were in a major car accident the day before school opened than they would be knowing you’re undergoing cancer treatment? They shouldn’t.
I realize that you have an option, but if you lost a toe accidentally would it be an option to not have it sewn back on in order to be at school the first day? You had breasts before the cancer diagnosis and if you want to live your life with breasts you should.
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1 ReactionHi @kedisaacs ,
I had DIEP- flap surgery about four years ago, when I was 39. There was no medical reason to chose the survey over going flat, and I was going to go flat on the one side just for speed.
What made me choose the DIEP was the chart of mental health/life satisfaction five/ten years out from end of treatment. We all feel great once the cancer is gone, but people with reconstruction were, on average, much happier.
The recovery was brutal, and I spent the first year regretting the extra difficulty, especially the added time I could not pick up my baby. But now I am really happy I did it.
I feel more myself than I was before, and feel very vital and young - even when, after chemo/radiation/surgery/etc I had the ailing reflexes and body of a person 20 years older (according to my PT team!)
Also, as a teacher, and with cancer rates/breast cancer rates increasing - you may have students or kids in other classes with an auntie or grandma or even a mom who has also delt with cancer.
Being able to talk to the kids appropriately about your recovery, or why you may need extra time to do stuff, may be a real blessing.
Even if not, they can see with you a way to handle aversity with grace.
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4 Reactions@kedisaacs, in addition to the replies you get in the discussion you started, you might also appreciate these related discussions:
- DIEP Flap pros and cons? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/diep-flap-pros-and-cons/
- Mastectomy and reconstruction pros and cons. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mastectomy-1/
- Feelings on going “flat” https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/feelings-on-going-flat/
See all:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/breast-cancer/?search=DIEP&index=discussions
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/breast-cancer/?search=flat&index=discussions
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1 ReactionHi this is a tough decision for sure. I was 69 and went with masectomy because I didn't want extra surgery. I am glad I did. I eventually was fitted for a prosthesis and bra and all is well.
Recovery was not difficult for me but it is a personal choice. My scar looks like a smiley face. Each choice is an adjustment for sure. Look at pictures of these different surgeries and that might help as well. Good luck and you will make the right choice for you.
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1 ReactionCertainly a personal choice. I'm 58 years old and had a unilateral mastectomy a year ago so I'm flat on one side . . . it is super easy for me, though because I was fairly flat-chested to begin with. As someone who has always had very small boobs (< A-cup) the transition was pretty easy. My family reminds me that I am really the only person who can tell that I'm technically lopsided. I haven't used a prosthesis but may or may not fiddle around with that at some point. I suspect it would be much more of a transition for someone with average or large breasts to begin with.
I also hear you about feeling like treatment has aged you. The medication I'm taking has aged my skin immensely over the past 8 months. Ugh!
Yes understand about aging skin. I went to our shoppers drug store in Canada and found LaRoche-Posay cleanser and moisturizer and it has helped my skin alot. I was very dry to begin with then worse after chemo.
There are many different kinds of this product I told them about cancer treatnent etc and they helped me find the right product. My skin looks and feels better. You can find dermatologists on u tube talking about the products. Sending hugs to all.