A Breast Cancer Patient Intent on Finding Access to Care

Access to medical care for those affected by breast cancer is crucial, and often life transformative. This is a personal story of a breast cancer patient intent on finding access to care. She is a woman of strength and stopped at nothing to find the best care available for her during her personal journey from diagnosis to recovery from DIEP flap breast reconstructive surgery. I am pleased to offer this summary of the DiepCJourney podcast.

Dana’s Diagnosis and Breast Cancer Treatment

Dana Brown, PhD., is a 54-year-old wife, mother, and educator. She has been married to her best friend and soulmate for 35 years and they have an amazing son who is twenty-six. Recently, after 30 years in education, after much consideration with her husband, Dana decided to retire. This decision was made based on the reason she is sharing her story with you on the podcast about how she found access to care in breast cancer and breast reconstruction.

In December of 2021, Dana found a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, level three, the most aggressive level. It was HER2 positive and had spread to her lymph nodes. She tells us about “a wonderful oncology team” she worked with at Highlands Oncology in Springdale, Arkansas.

Dana was prescribed chemo to help shrink the tumor and help it from spreading further. During this time, she decided to have both breasts removed in a double mastectomy. She was concerned about the cancer spreading to the other breast. Three of the nine lymph nodes removed tested positive for cancer. This led to twenty-five treatments of radiation. It was the damage from radiation that led her to find a reconstructive surgeon.

Dana’s Challenging Journey Finding A Microsurgeon in Arkansas

While recovering from radiation she developed an infection in her left breast expander. Surgeons had to remove her expander due to the infection, but the surgery left her severely deformed. This is what led her to Dr. Kasia Kania, a microsurgeon practicing in Rogers, Arkansas at Taylor Plastic Surgery.

I stop for a moment during the interview honoring all emotions that Dana is feeling and her drive and intent on finding access to care. The consultation with the surgeon who placed her implants was confusing for Dana. She was counseled that there was really “no hurry” to do another implant surgery or consider using her back muscle to reconstruct her breasts. She was told she could wait a year.

Her uncertainty about the information in that consult and Dana’s sheer determination to find better access to care began her research. She looked at PRMA in San Antonio hearing they had a great clinic and success rate for breast reconstruction. Dana was comfortable knowing she now had a choice. What she really wanted was to stay in her home state and avoid long travel. But she was told that no one in Arkansas performed DIEP flap.

Finding Access to Care in Her Home State of Arkansas

It was a chance conversation with a work colleague that led her to find Dr. Kania. In Dana’s words, when she looked at her credentials and found out she performed DIEP flap she told her work colleague, “Girl, I’m going to call her right now!” Dana knew the surgical group Dr. Kania worked with was covered under her insurance.

She knew the moment Dr. Kania looked at her and said, “I can fix that,” that this is who she needed to be with to perform her DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery. Choking back tears during our interview Dana told me she looked at her husband and said, “This is where we need to be!” She gave Dana hope and could take back what cancer took from her.

Barriers Faced in Dana’s Access to Care

Between the time she saw Dr. Kania for her initial consultation and scheduling her surgery, Dana, and Dr. Kania experienced barriers to her care. Surgery dates were pushed back due to these roadblocks. Dana’s feeling of hope turned to feeling deflated. She wanted “cancer to be done” and wanted to be finished. Dana considered reconstruction the finish line.

Dana considers herself a fighter and is not one to be told, “no.” Along with Dr. Kania, they began to work for approval so Dana could stay in her home state. She wrote letters to her local representative and senator, both friends of her family. Her representative was finding conflicting information from insurance about who performed DIEP flap in the state of Arkansas. Meanwhile, Dr. Kania appealed the decision and had a peer-to-peer conversation as part of the appeals process.

Dr. Kania has performed Dana’s surgery and yet they are still in the appeals process to have it covered. But as a fighter and breast cancer survivor, along with a determined and passionate young surgeon, they will continue to work these barriers and coding issues that unfortunately still exist for some patients and surgeons.

A Personal Note Regarding Microsurgical Access to Care

I will share how I met Dr. Kania and what led me to tell Dana’s story. It was at the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgeons 2024 Conference that I met Dr. Kania. In the world of microsurgery, there is a great deal of compassion and care among these colleagues. Yes, there is always competition, and naturally so in any profession. But what I witnessed at that conference is a compelling story of the shared compassion among these colleagues.

I introduced her to my own reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. I told him I wanted him to meet this young, enthusiastic surgeon to provide counsel to her. He spent time with her answering questions and providing his help. I had not seen Dr. David Light for some time. I ran into him at the conference when I was with Dr. Kania. After sharing a hug and “how have things been” conversation I introduce him to Dr. Kania. He spent time with her also answering questions, guiding her to find coverage in her area. Both surgeons showing care and compassion inspires me and gives me hope for patients. We cannot fight these battles alone. It will continue to take folks like Dana, Dr. Kania, and microsurgeons who care about outcomes for those affected by breast cancer to make a difference in our lives.

You can listen to the podcast here. Dana, thank you for your story of strength and resilience! We have work to do!!  

Disclaimer

References made to my surgical group, surgeon and healthcare team are made because they are aligned with my values and met my criterion after I did research of their practices and success rates. Any other healthcare provider that displays the same skill, compassion education and outreach to patients will be given consideration and recognition on this website.  The information contained on this website is not a substitute for or should be construed as medical advice. Please consult a licensed physician for medical advice.