Cancer woman has new breast made from her tummy tissue

A cancer survivor has been given a new lease of life after having breast reconstruction surgery using tissue from her abdomen.

Jackie Gladdy, 54, had a mastectomy after a mammogram picked up the disease four years ago.
The surgery left her feeling self-conscious about her body until she had the procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.

The operation, called DIEP flap reconstruction, involved removing skin, fat and blood vessels from her abdomen and transferring them to her chest to remould a left breast.

The mother-of-four from Watford, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2007, said: "I had a large bust so it was a big change when I had the mastectomy I just didn't feel like I was the same person. I thought it was great that I could get my breast back and at the same time have a tummy tuck."

Mrs Gladdy, who volunteers at a local football club, added: "It's changed my life. I never used to look in the mirror but now I do - it looks and feels so natural I'm back to the old me."
The operation was performed by a team led by consultant plastic surgeon Ash Mosahebi.

He said: "It creates a very natural looking breast. As it is made out of the patient's tissue, it also grows or decreases in size if the patient gains or loses weight."