DIEP flap for Breast Cancer: 23 Real Stories

23 stories match breast cancer and DIEP flap. 19 of them mention mastectomy.

Cancer Stories

Helga, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Helga's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Helga Dietrich, Female, 60s

By the time Helga was 60, she had completed treatment for recurrent breast cancer, later underwent DIEP flap reconstruction 10 years after mastectomy, and remained active in self-help and family life.

Krankheitserfahrungen.de
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Nicole, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Nicole's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Nicole Bissinger, Female, 40s

Nicole completed surgery, chemotherapy, anti-hormone injections, and DIEP-flap reconstruction for Paget carcinoma, later described major side effects and body-image recovery, and used writing to process the illness.

Krankheitserfahrungen.de
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Cher, who was diagnosed with Stage III Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage III Breast Cancer: Cher's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Cher, Female | Stage III

Biomarkers: Hormone-positive; HER2-negative; Oncotype DX score 0

No evidence of disease after treatment for Stage IIIB breast cancer, with ongoing adjuvant Verzenio, long-term hormone blockers, and planned preventive mastectomy/DIEP flap reconstruction.

breastcancer.org
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Renée, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Renée's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Renée, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Renée described her health as stable and her treatment as working. She remained on a long-term hormone-based anti-cancer regimen and was still healing from reconstruction complications rather than describing herself as cancer-free.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing / Survivorship
Melissa, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Melissa's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Melissa, Female | Stage II

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer; BRCA testing negative; NBN gene mutation identified on later testing

Melissa completed pregnancy-adapted cancer treatment, later underwent risk-reducing surgery and reconstruction, and was raising both daughters.

The Patient Story
OutcomeTreatment Completed / Survivorship
Monica, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage II Invasive Ductal Carcinoma: Monica's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Monica, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

As of June 2026, Monica described survivorship after treatment for Stage IIB breast cancer and a separate undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, with lasting neuropathy, bone pain, reconstruction complications, and grief around fertility.

The Patient Story
OutcomeSurvivorship / Completed Treatment
Sonja, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Sonja's Patient Story

Patient Info: Sonja Rideout, Female | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive; Tempus testing later indicated immunotherapy as an option

Metastatic Site: Lungs; liver; bone: tailbone; thoracic lymph nodes

As of January 2026, Sonja was living with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer after spread to lungs and liver, later tailbone and thoracic lymph nodes, and had moved to weekly carboplatin/gemcitabine plus monthly immunotherapy.

Susan G. Komen
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Tanya, who was diagnosed with Stage III Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage III HR-Positive Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Tanya's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tanya, Female, 40s | Stage III

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; grade 1

As of May 2025, Tanya was recovering from chest wall surgery, ALT flap repair, and a later skin graft after developing angiosarcoma in her radiated reconstructed breast years after Stage IIIA ILC treatment.

Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance
OutcomeSetback / Progression
Krista, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Krista's Patient Story

Patient Info: Krista Brown, Female

Biomarkers: Pathogenic ATM mutation; hormone receptor-positive; HER2-negative; Oncotype DX score 1/100

As of August 2024, Krista had completed mastectomy/reconstruction surgery and was continuing adjuvant tamoxifen with low reported recurrence risk.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

ER/PR-positive invasive mucinous breast cancer: mastectomy, DIEP reconstruction, and tamoxifen

Patient Info: Anonymized, trans woman, 50s

Biomarkers: ER 100% positive; PR 100% positive; HER2-negative; 19-gene hereditary cancer panel negative

As of May 2024, she was 1 year after bilateral DIEP free-flap reconstruction, satisfied with the cosmetic result, taking tamoxifen for recurrence-risk reduction, and planning nipple reconstruction; no recurrence status beyond the postoperative course was stated.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Debbie, who was diagnosed with Stage I Breast AdenocarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage I Breast Adenocarcinoma: Debbie's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Debbie Wade, Female | Stage I

As of February 2024, Debbie was cancer-free after double mastectomy, 4 weeks of radiation therapy and DIEP flap reconstruction for Stage I mucinous adenocarcinoma of the left breast, with mild left-arm lymphedema as the only reported side effect.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Olivia, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Inflammatory Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage IV HER2-Positive Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Olivia's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Olivia Franz, Female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: HER2-positive

Metastatic Site: Bones; distant lymph nodes

As of October 2023, Olivia continued to show no evidence of disease on scans while receiving maintenance trastuzumab and pertuzumab every 3 weeks and zoledronic acid every 3 months for bone health.

MD Anderson
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Renée, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Renée's Patient Story

Patient Info: Renée, Female, Under 40 | Stage II

Biomarkers: Not genetically inherited; breast cancer linked by her team to prior doxorubicin exposure and total-body radiation

As of February 2023, Renée described stable health, working treatments, good bloodwork, and ongoing long-term hormone/anti-cancer therapy; she did not consider herself cancer-free and preferred survivor/thriver language.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Alicia, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Alicia's Patient Story

Patient Info: Alicia, Female, 50s | Stage II

As of 2023, Alicia had undergone Stage II breast cancer treatment with mastectomy, hormone therapy, and DIEP flap reconstruction, with no treatment side effects described and a focus on recovery and wellbeing.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Angelina, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer: Angelina's Patient Story

Patient Info: Angelina, Female, 50s | Stage II

As of 2023, Angelina was undergoing Stage II breast cancer treatment with DIEP mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy, and was focused on recuperation and future goals.

Our Cancer Stories
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Hillary, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Hillary's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Hillary, Female, 50s

As of April 2021, Hillary had completed surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, lymphedema rehabilitation and staged reconstruction for node-positive breast cancer, with return toward normal life; no formal stage or NED status was stated.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

A difficult breast-reconstruction infection after breast cancer treatment

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

After wide debridement and prolonged antibiotic treatment, the breast and abdominal wounds healed, imaging showed resolution of the subcutaneous infection, and no infection recurrence was seen over three years.

PubMed Central
OutcomeNot reported
Tamara, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Breast Cancer: Tamara's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Tamara Bumpus, Female

Biomarkers: No specific hereditary breast cancer gene identified; strong family history of breast cancer

As of November 2020, Tamara had successful breast cancer removal and DIEP reconstruction after a 2016 diagnosis, with no specific hereditary gene identified despite a strong family history; recurrence status was not reported.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeSurvivorship / Surveillance
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast Cancer

A New Breast Cancer Arising Beneath an Accessory Nipple

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s

Biomarkers: ER 5%; PR 5–10%; HER2-negative.

After chemotherapy, surgery, endocrine therapy, proton radiation, and later reconstruction revision, she was currently without evidence of disease.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
Mariann, who was diagnosed with Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Mariann's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Mariann Lotenero, Female, 60s

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer

As of October 2019, Mariann reported she no longer had cancer after prior triple-negative breast cancer treatment and had improved sensation and body comfort about 2 years after DIEP reconstruction with nerve reconnection.

Cleveland Clinic
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED