Back to surgery!

Dr Kelly Teagle is a women's health GP who founded a Telehealth menopause clinic that helps thousands of women with their menopause symptoms. At the age of 54, she was diagnosed with breast cancer from a routine screening mammogram. This VLOG is her personal journey, in the hope that other women will be encouraged to get their mammograms done, and perhaps save their lives.
This is Kelly's first video in 18 months, prompted by her decision to have the other breast removed and undergo major reconstructive surgery. She is booked for a left mastectomy and bilateral DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator artery) flap breast reconstruction on 25th June 2024.
You can learn more about DIEP reconstructions with this video from Johns Hopkins: clinicalconnection.hopkinsmed... and handout from The Royal Melbourne Hospital: thewomens.r.worldssl.net/imag...
Recapping...
-1st June 2002: routine Breastscreen ACT mammogram
-21 June: recalled to Breastscreen to biopsy an area in the right breast
-24 June: diagnosed with DCIS, LCIS and micro-invasive lobular cancer
-29th June: MRI finds a second suspicious area
-30th June: breast surgeon proposes surgical removal, orders biopsy
-1st July: Ultrasound guided biopsy of the second lesion
-7th July: biopsy confirms the additional area as invasive lobular cancer
-18th July: Surgery planning for mastectomy with node removal on 9th Aug
-27th July: Surgical pre-admission clinic
-9th Aug 2022: mastectomy right breast
-11th Aug 2022: home from hospital
-22nd Aug 2022: pathology results multiple small tumours but all removed
and no lymph node spread
-16th Sep 2022: met oncology team to consider medical therapy options.
-Dec 2022: Now established on Tamoxifen and using non-hormonal treatments for menopause symptoms.
-25th Jun 2024: Left mastectomy and bilateral DIEP breast reconstruction.
The information contained reflects Kelly's own personal story, feelings and opinions; it is not intended to guide women in their own medical care, other than to encourage them to engage in regular breast self-examination and screening.
If you feel this story has been helpful to you, please share the VLOG with other women you know aged 40-70, and encourage them to get breast screening.