Nerve Graft: Restoring Sensation to the Breast

Sensation to the breast is important to most women. Nerves in the breast provide this sensation. This feeling provides protection from heat and cold temperatures. The breast is an erogenous zone for several women providing sexual sensation, especially in the nipple and areola area. Nerves are cut at the time of mastectomy when cancerous tissue is removed leaving numbness to the chest. During breast reconstruction, some surgeons perform a procedure using a nerve graft restoring sensation to the breast. Location of the Nerves Restoring Sensation to the Breast The breast is comprised of an intricate web of nerves running through the breast tissue. Surgeons tend to speak about the two sides of the breast looking at it from the front. Draw an imaginary line from the arm pit area running down the side. This is the area of the chest referred to as the lateral area. The area at the Continue Reading →

Why I Can’t Wait for the New Decade in Breast Reconstruction

We have sent best wishes for the New Year to our social media friends. This year ushered in a new decade. Many of us wonder how things will change in the next ten years. This blog may be my time capsule for the upcoming decade. I would like to check back in 2030 to see what items in this blog will change and improve and why I can’t wait for the new decade in Breast Reconstruction. A New Decade of Shared Decision Making in Breast Reconstruction The topic of shared decision-making is at the top of my list. The practice of shared decision-making with the plastic surgeon who performed my DIEP flap is what made my breast reconstruction so successful. I see progress! Dr. Chrysopoulo developed a decision making tool, the Breast Advocate app, this past decade to give patients a voice in their decision making with their health care Continue Reading →

A Commentary: A Study Marking Patients for DIEP Flap Surgery

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open is an open source journal available for everyone to read. I refer to it frequently. The articles I focus on are those regarding breast reconstruction. The article entitled, “A Standardized Approach to Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Marking” was recently brought to my attention by a plastic surgeon, Dr. Roy Kim. I know Dr. Kim via social media and speaking to him at the annual Plastic Surgery conference. I recently had the privilege of meeting two of the authors of the paper, Dr. Edward Reece and Dr. Sebastian Winocour both of Baylor College of Medicine. I think he knew I would find this study fascinating. I decided to write a commentary on this study of marking patients for DIEP flap surgery. A Patient Advocate’s Thoughts: A Study Marking Patients for DIEP Flap Surgery I chose DIEP flap as the method of breast reconstruction after Continue Reading →

A Simple Note of Gratitude

I was raised to have a grateful heart. I have come to appreciate this value my parents taught me. They modeled the importance of expressing gratitude frequently with friends, family, and even strangers. Mom and Dad always said gratitude should be given freely from the heart, expecting nothing in return. I dedicate this blog to an individual I have known for five years. I encourage the reader to take the time to acknowledge those in your life who have made a difference, large or small, either publicly or privately with a simple note of gratitude from your heart. Moments in life are sweet and precious, tenuous and unpredictable. We don’t always know the direction our lives will take. There are the planners and the gypsies. I have always considered myself a planner with a bit of gypsy spirit. A plan I put in place in 2014 was to complete my Continue Reading →

DiepC Journey Facebook Group Hit 4,000 Members!

DiepC Journey Facebook Group Hit 4,000 Members! Facebook members on DiepC Journey, Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy, can be very active in the evenings. This happens when members have some alone time after dinner, work, and putting the children to bed. I hopped on last night. I noticed a lot of activity and questions being asked. Then something incredible happened. I looked at the number of members as I approved some new requests to join. I was a bit shocked to find out the Journey hit 4,000 members. DiepC Journey Facebook Group and 4,000 Members Around the Globe I am in awe of this group because it is specific to breast reconstruction after mastectomy. That is our common bond. On World Kindness Day I asked members to check in to tell each other where they were from. This group continues to practice kindness toward each other in unexpected ways. They checked Continue Reading →

What is Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day?

Each year in October, a day is set aside to provide education to women and men about what options are available for breast reconstruction. Medical practices, plastic surgeons, and organization across the country host various events inviting those who need resources and information about breast reconstruction. Attendees to BRA Day events include those affected by breast cancer. Let’s take a closer look at topics covered and answer the question of what Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is and the information it provides. Options for Breast Reconstruction Autologous breast reconstruction: Using the patient’s own tissue to reconstruction the breast. Implant-based reconstruction: Using an implant filled with silicon or gel to recreate the breast. Autologous tissue and implant combined I had autologous, DIEP flap breast reconstruction. The lower tummy tissue is disconnected along with the underlying blood vessels (deep inferior epigastric perforators). It is then reconnected to the breast area to create soft Continue Reading →

Patient Advocacy at ASBrS

It was an honor to attend the American Society of Breast Surgeons meeting as a patient advocate. I felt welcome from the moment I arrived. The first breast surgeon I met was a past president of ASBrS, Dr. Deanna Attai. I have been interacting with Dr. Attai on Social Media through #bcsm tweet chats but never had the opportunity to meet her in person. We sat in the lobby of the hotel to share a cup of coffee. The first question she asked me was, “Terri, why did you attend the meeting?” I smiled at her because it was the question I wanted to be asked as a patient advocate attending ASBrS. I folded my arms on the table, leaned in as I smiled at Dr. Attai, and answered her question with a question, “Guess who told me about all my options for breast reconstruction?” The smile on her face Continue Reading →

Undeniable Physical and Psychological Changes After Breast Reconstruction

Facing the possibility of mastectomy is frightening for most. You have breast cancer or a genetic mutation putting you at high risk for developing breast cancer. The body parts that are front and center on your body are about to be removed. You are sitting in front of a plastic surgeon as the surgical process is described to you. You know there will be undeniable physical and psychological changes after breast reconstruction. How in the world do you begin to even process all of this? How Will I Feel Physically After Mastectomy? My breasts gave me a sense of balance I didn’t realize until I began to stumble over my own feet after my double mastectomy. I thought I was just recovering from side affects of anesthesiology. Walking through my house I would randomly trip like a baby taking its first steps. I felt clumsy and awkward. My breast surgeon Continue Reading →

National Doctor’s Day

Celebrate National Doctor’s Day? I’m in. These folks deserve a day of honor. Why? Long days and sometimes into the night in hospital and clinic. Hours of paperwork after time spent with their patients. Calming the fears of their patients. After hours calls from concerned patients. Putting back together diseased, damaged body parts. Comforting family members concerned about loved ones. Continued study and refresher courses to maintain licenses, expand knowledge, and improve skills. The list is exhaustive. The profession is noble. The talent is admirable. A Personal Note of Gratitude to Doctors I want to share a personal note of gratitude. My professional life has always focused on education. I was accustomed to interaction was with students, parents, colleagues, and administrators. My professional life took on a different role after a second breast cancer diagnosis, double mastectomy, and successful DIEP flap breast reconstruction. I felt it was important to educate Continue Reading →

Waiting for a DIEP Flap Surgery Date

Ruth is one of over 2,400 global members of DiepCJourney Facebook group. I am honored to share her story here. The wait for her DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery has been challenging for Ruth on many levels. She tells us her personal story and what it means waiting for a DIEP flap surgery date. Delayed DIEP Flap: The Wait Begins It was October 2014 when I received my breast cancer diagnosis. I live in a small beautiful, city tucked away in the south east corner of British Columbia. Though I was able to have a mastectomy and chemotherapy locally, unfortunately our hospital does not have the facilities to offer either radiation or reconstructive surgery. It was decided having a mastectomy would be the first course in my treatment. Opting for immediate reconstructive surgery would have meant a delay as well as travelling over 500km to Kelowna or over 800km to Continue Reading →