Hi Frantastic,

A very warm welcome to our forum. 

As you travel your cancer journey, you will find it helpful to be able to chat with others, who are going, or have gone through, the same procedure as you, We are a friendly and supportive bunch of people and I'm sure that you'll be glad to have found our community. I expect that you are beginning to get nervous about surgery. It is all very straight-forward and nowhere nearly as bad, as we tend to imagine beforehand. I have had a lumpectomy, followed by a double mastectomy, a year later. I recovered quicker from the mastectomies than I did from the lumpectomy. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't have Diep flat surgery, because of scarring from previous non-cancer related surgery. In the end, I decided not to bother with reconstruction and just use an assortment of prostheses for different activities.  That was all 14 years ago and I still lead a busy life. The tissue removed during your surgery will be sent to the laboratory to be tested. You will usually get the results of this about 1-2 weeks later. This will indicate how much radiotherapy you are likely to need.

I am not a doctor, but don't see any problem with you having a holiday in September, when this is all behind you. You may have some check-up appointments, which you could work around, date wise. The only factor that could change this, would be if your pathology results recommend chemo. This can happen occasionally, but again, you may be able to work around this. Make sure to discuss this with your consultant.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Jolamine thank you so much for this it really dies help me judge well.

my biopsy was tested and didn’t react to chemo so that is not something that will happen unless anything changes - I know I will need radiotherapy.

finding this chat forum is a great help as there is reassurance for my journey 

All went well, I have plenty fat so no concerns there lol - my surgery is now 25 Jan confirmed - I’m with you on the appointments, I’ve officially gone sick from work as need to focus on this and attend all the appointments 

I had the CT scan a weird sensation as they inject a substance that makes you feel warm etc - goes quickly though.

off for another blood test now

Glad yours is all approved too, the first 24 hours sound very intense, half an hour checks! My hospital is an hour away from home and I have to go there for all my follow ups too, plus back for the CT scan Monday, bit of a pain but can't complain. I'm working right up until the day before, but mainly admin/at home rather than in service (support worker) so that's really helped with the flexibility, holding out til the last min for my 10 weeks sick pay!!

Hi Annielouise,

I'm glad to hear that you've had your pre-op and that everyone explained things properly. I'm glad to hear that the operation can still go ahead and hope that the CT shows the arteries to be suitable.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Frantastic,

I'm glad to hear that you are all ready for surgery now and that it is confirmed. You will find it helpful to have clothing that opens at the front instead of items that you need to pull over your head at first.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Frantastic51   Annielouise  

I too am having a Diep soon. No firm date yet, though I've done all of the pre op stuff.  I was actually due to have it on the 2nd of January after 8 weeks of waiting for my genetic testing results to come back. Unfortunately though I picked up covid, so was sent home on the morning of surgery. Was actually very relieved as I felt so rough and the doctors strikes were happening the following day. 

It's really good to read posts like this where others are going through the same things. I've found it enormously helpful. 

I've just no idea what to expect post surgery. Hoping I'll be able to get back to normal soonish?! And also keen to book a holiday 

How have you found the tamoxifen? 

Wishing you both well xx

Xx

Hi Annielouise lovely to read your message- seems everyone is treated very differently- I was on tamoxifen until last Sunday and dare I say I managed ok on it, except waking up at 4am most mornings- I have noticed how very very tired I am too 

I hope all goes well and having found this chat has really helped me - I’m trying to carry on as normal but sometimes just sometimes it gets hard 

Wrenny and frantastic, I've joined a really good Facebook group called diep reconstruction uk, I'd definitely recommend 

Hi I've not taken any meds as yet, I think that will come shortly? Hope all is going ok for you x

They put me on tamoxifen due to the slight delay in my surgery- I was diagnosed 15 Nov 

Hi Wrenny,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I'm glad to hear hat all of your pre-op checks are done and that you are just waiting for a new surgery appointment. It must have been a relief, tinged with disappointment, to have your original date cancelled due to Covid. I hope that you are feeling better now and that it won't be too long before you can get this all over and done with.

You will find it helpful to have clothing that opens down the front to start with, as this is easier than trying to lift things over your head. We all react differently to surgery, but so long as you listen to your body, you'll get through this. Don't over exert yourself and rest when you need to. Don't lift heavy things and don't be surprised if you feel really fatigued.

I would wait to book your holiday, until you see how you feel after surgery.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Wrenny,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I'm glad to hear hat all of your pre-op checks are done and that you are just waiting for a new surgery appointment. It must have been a relief, tinged with disappointment, to have your original date cancelled due to Covid. I hope that you are feeling better now and that it won't be too long before you can get this all over and done with.

You will find it helpful to have clothing that opens down the front to start with, as this is easier than trying to lift things over your head. We all react differently to surgery, but so long as you listen to your body, you'll get through this. Don't over exert yourself and rest when you need to. Don't lift heavy things and don't be surprised if you feel really fatigued.

I would wait to book your holiday, until you see how you feel after surgery.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx