Wednesday, February 22, 2012

PINK GLOVE DANCE!



Thanks to Medline for the pink gloves, and thanks to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland Oregon for sharing this with the world. If this doesn't make you get up and dance (or at least smile), I don't know what will!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Why Breast Reconstruction?



Many times a breast cancer diagnosis comes with a crappy to do list which may include "get a mastectomy." After a doctor recommends mastectomy, trying to comprehend all of the medical decisions that need to be made can be overwhelming to say the least.

The goal of breast reconstruction is to restore the appearance of a natural breast when one is lost for medical reasons. Not every patient will elect to have reconstructive breast surgery, but every patient should at least consider her breast reconstruction options. Breast reconstruction can be an important part of rebuilding a women's self-esteem after losing a breast to cancer.

Although reconstruction can be done separately after mastectomy, even many years later, there are advantages to having the reconstruction process started at the same time as mastectomy. There are many options for reconstructing a breast. Make sure you are informed about all of them. A plastic surgeon performs breast reconstruction surgery. A patient should arrange for a consultation to discuss treatment options.

A cancer diagnosis means physical changes as well as emotional challenges. Although a cancer diagnosis can certainly send someone into a tailspin, it is important for a woman to take the time to fully understand her reconstructive options before deciding on her surgical care. This may not be easy since there are many factors to consider: the stage of breast cancer, overall health of patient, the size of natural breast, availability of tissue if considering a tissue-based reconstruction, ability to match other breast, recovery time needed, coordinating with chemotherapy and radiation therapy if necessary. Making the commitment to investigate reconstructive options as soon as possible can have a lasting benefit.

At BreastCancerReconstructionChoices, our goal is to educate and empower women facing mastectomy by providing information about breast reconstruction options. . Making the commitment to investigate reconstructive options as extensively as possible, can have lasting  benefits for mastectomy patients. We hope to assist survivors in this process by providing information and encouragement.
Our goal is to support each patient in their journey.
  • Empower
  • Educate
  • Advocate
 A good resource with a general overview of breast reconstruction is available from The American Society of Plastic Surgeons .