A cancer survivor who had a breast reconstructed immediately following undergoing a mastectomy, during the same surgery, encourages the use of this little-known operation that changed her life.
Danielle Manseau underwent partial removal of a breast in 2014. Four years later, she was told of a recurrence of her cancer.
“I knew total ablation was coming. I did my homework,” says the 59-year-old woman.
While conducting her research, this resident of Nicolet, in the Centre-du-Québec region, discovered that the immediate reconstruction of her breast might take place at the same time as the removal of cancerous tumors.
“That’s what I wanted,” says the determined lady.
She spoke regarding it to her surgeon who then transferred her to the CHUM.
Deploring the lack of information available on immediate breast reconstruction, Ms. Manseau approached a production company, Studios Equinox, which will present a documentary on her journey this fall.
The director of plastic surgery at the CHUM, Dr. Joseph Bou-Merhi, collaborated on this project, also considering that this surgery is not well enough known.
“The percentage is only 20% in Quebec compared to more than 50% in the United States, he specifies. Whenever there are no oncological contraindications to reconstruction, the patient should be offered the option of immediate reconstruction on the same mastectomy day. At the CHUM, more than 98% are reconstructed immediately with two surgeons present (an oncologist surgeon and a plastic surgeon)”.
Eight hours in the operating room
Ms. Manseau spent eight hours in the operating room to undergo her mastectomy and reconstruction. The skin and fat from her abdominal apron were used to fill her new breast, instead of having to resort to a prosthesis. In this type of operation, the blood vessels in the flap (the piece of skin and fat) are connected to those in the patient’s chest using a microscope.
The fighter had a second breast equalization surgery during which she had the nipple of her new breast reconstructed with the skin of her belly, in addition to the “lift” of the other breast .
Normally, these interventions are done over a period of one year, but they lasted three years in the case of Ms. Manseau, due to her heart problems and the load shedding during the pandemic.
Last May, she had a “beautiful rose” tattooed on her new breast, as it has no halo.
Safe and without deformation
According to Dr. Bou-Merhi, immediate reconstruction prevents the patient from ending up with a deformed breast, which has a positive impact on her clothing, her life as a couple, etc.
The Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), which covers all the costs of immediate reconstitution, has conducted clinical trials to conclude that it is safe from an oncological point of view. Since 2014, the number it funds has grown significantly, totaling more than 424 in 2021.
Danielle Manseau is proud of her “new kid on the block,” as she calls him. “He moves like a real one. I am very, very, very, very satisfied with the result. Dr. Bou-Merhi is a genius!” she exclaims.
