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Mrs. Tetiana began her journey at the National Cancer Institute in 2023, when she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. Ahead of her lay difficult months of treatment: surgery, comprehensive therapy, and a long recovery.
However, the end of her primary treatment didn't mean the end of all her trials. After the mastectomy, Tetiana used an external breast prosthesis for two years and also faced a postoperative complication — lymphedema of the arm, a swelling of tissue caused by impaired lymphatic drainage.
The team of surgeons at the National Cancer Institute proposed a modern reconstructive procedure — DIEP reconstruction.
This is one of the most complex types of microsurgical breast reconstruction, in which the breast is rebuilt using the patient's own tissue — skin and fatty tissue from the lower abdomen, with the muscles preserved. Surgeons connect blood vessels to ensure full blood supply to the transplanted tissue.
At the same time as the breast reconstruction, the doctors performed microsurgical treatment of the lymphedema — transplanting a healthy lymph node to improve lymphatic drainage and reduce the arm swelling that had developed after her previous treatment.
Combining two high-tech microsurgical procedures into a single operation made it possible not only to restore her appearance but also to improve her quality of life.
"For me, this was a 'two-in-one' operation: minus 12 centimeters off my waist and a beautiful breast! I didn't even know that it's possible nowadays to transplant blood vessels, or that you can transplant lymph nodes from somewhere else and have them actually work."
Just a few weeks after the operation, Mrs. Tetiana is already seeing the first results and doesn't hide her emotions.
"For two years I used an external prosthesis. And now, when I can finally wear tank tops — just three weeks after the operation — it's incredibly important psychologically."
Today she continues hormone therapy and is gradually returning to her normal life. She says, quite sincerely, that the doctors at the National Cancer Institute made her dream come true.
For many women, breast reconstruction after cancer treatment is about much more than aesthetics. It's a chance to restore a sense of wholeness, self-confidence, and comfort in everyday life.
That's why modern oncology combines not only effective treatment of malignant disease but also the restoration of patients' physical and psychological well-being. Lymphedema and the need for a prosthesis are not conditions patients have to live with forever — today they can be corrected microsurgically.
We are sincerely happy for Mrs. Tetiana's success, wish her an easy recovery, and thank her for her trust. Every story like this is a reminder: treating cancer is not only a fight for life, but also the chance to return to a full, active life afterward.
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