Terri Coutee

DiepCJourney Celebrates a Four-Year Anniversary of Educating About Breast Reconstruction

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Terri

Four years ago, on March 17, 2015, an idea was launched. DiepCJourney blog began as a cathartic writing exercise, detailing my Journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer twice and the choice to undergo DIEPflap breast reconstruction. DiepCJourney soon transformed into a passion, a mission to educate others about my successful experience and what I continue to learn on this amazing Journey. I am grateful to celebrate the four-year anniversary of DiepCJourney, the blog that launched a Foundation to educate others about all their options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. The Celtic symbol and backdrop for DiepCJourney was developed with a dear friend, Meagan. Both of us embrace our rich Irish heritage. We met several times at quaint coffee houses in early January of 2015 discussing the design, meaning, and an appropriate launch date for the blog. The sketch she drew of me was something I had to consider for Continue Reading →

Laura’s Journey Through Breast Reconstruction

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Terri

I am honored to share another one of our Personal Stories featuring Laura’s Journey through breast reconstruction. On September 25th, 2017 I had two biopsies on calcifications in my right breast. I had a biopsy on that same breast 5 years ago and it was negative for cancer. It was a very unpleasant experience and I was quite aggravated that there was nothing wrong and I had such a bad time recovering that the whole event went into my book as awful. But my OB-GYN called me the next afternoon after this biopsy and said “Well we weren’t so lucky this time. They found cancer in both samples.” But wait! I have zero risk! I have no family history! I nursed all my babies for a year after they were born! I don’t smoke! This can’t be right!! On September 28th, Hollis and I met with a wonderful surgeon named Richard Continue Reading →

Sisters Not Twins: Nipple Prosthesis after Unilateral Mastectomy

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Terri

For women who have a unilateral mastectomy after breast cancer, there are great benefits to maintaining at least one sensate breast and nipple. However, it usually is more challenging to achieve a good symmetrical restoration of breast and nipple. There are plastic surgeons who like to inform us that after reconstruction, our breasts will be “sisters not twins” to help us have realistic expectations. In seeking to restore symmetry and balance for these women, most custom nipple prosthetic companies make an impression of the natural nipple and then seek to match the color. The cost range for this degree of customization is currently about $480 to $760. That was the approach my husband and I used with Naturally Impressive nipple prosthetics for about 5 years. We learned a lot through this process, but we also discovered some of its limitations. MATCHING A NATURAL NIPPLE IS A MOVING TARGET! From my Continue Reading →

Interested in Breast Reconstruction but don’t want Implants? You have Other Options!

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Terri

I was given all my options for breast reconstruction the day my breast surgeon told me I would be facing a double mastectomy after my second breast cancer diagnosis. I was fortunate. However, I had to dig deep and spend hours of research to find the specifics of what type of reconstruction I felt was going to work best for me. At first, like many women, I thought implants were my only option. I ultimately decided I wanted to use my own tissue. But where could I find those alternative choices to implants for breast reconstruction? It took me time and asking a lot of questions. It was important to me to find medically backed information and evidence-based articles about alternatives to implants for breast reconstruction. I did not find all this information in one place nor did I have access to what many women have available today. What am Continue Reading →

The Eye of a Restorative Tattoo Artist for Breast Cancer Patients

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Terri

There are those who choose their profession based on their interest and background training. Eric Eye was inspired to expand his practice and professional skill as a tattooer after learning about restorative tattoos for breast cancer patients. This blog is dedicated to Eric Eye after I spent time with him in his Seattle studio on Capitol Hill. Eric is the eye of a restorative tattoo artist for breast cancer patients. The streets of Capitol Hill are an eclectic collection of ethnic restaurants, music shops with vintage albums, coffee shops, parking meters lining the streets waiting to be fed, and above ground wires strung from telephone poles draped like spider webs across the streets. There are businesses sharing the same brick and mortar in a single block separated by walls and glass windows with entrances leading to long narrow hallways and locked corridors. A Breast Cancer Patient’s First Visit to a Continue Reading →

Let’s Honor All Choices and Decisions after Mastectomy!

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Terri

I am speaking to anyone who knows a person who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. I am speaking to anyone who knows a person who has a genetic mutation putting them at high risk of developing breast cancer. These individuals are faced with difficult choices after hearing the news in either circumstance. Let’s honor all decisions and choices after mastectomy, please! No one can fully understand how difficult the decision is except the person facing a surgical treatment option. Your body, the body you had before mastectomy, is going to be altered. I hear far too often from those facing mastectomy they are questioned, criticized, and left feeling unsupported and confused about their decision to reconstruct their breasts or remain flat. Why does this happen? Here are some statements I hear from those who don’t feel supported: Oh, you’re getting a boob job, huh? Wow! I wish I could Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction and New Genetic Testing Guidelines

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Terri

As a patient advocate who provides resources for breast reconstruction, I am paying close attention to the new updated genetic testing guidelines issued by the American Society of Breast Surgeons. The information needed to make an informed decision is multi-faceted. Without providing updated information to the community I serve, those affected by breast cancer, some will remain uninformed. Being uninformed translates into not being able to have a shared decision-making conversation with any health care provider about genetic testing if you are affected by breast cancer. Being aware of these new updated guidelines can be a pivotal point in your decision to move forward with breast reconstruction or not. Surveillance, surgery, treatment, or future testing are decisions often made based on genetic test results. Therefore, writing about this topic is important to me. Understanding the Information on Updated Genetic Testing Guidelines There have been several articles written this week on Continue Reading →

El valor de una 2ª opinión para la reconstrucción mamaria

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Terri

El valor de una segunda opinión para la reconstrucción mamaria es, afortunadamente, algo que tiene el potencial de dar esperanzas a las mujeres que han sido rechazadas en una consulta inicial para una reconstrucción mamaria autóloga. Tuve la fortuna de hablar con dos cirujanos certificados, el Dr. David Song de MedStar Georgetown y el Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo de PRMA en San Antonio. Ambos son cirujanos plásticos que rutinariamente realizan una variedad de cirugías reconstructivas de mama con tejidos de la propia paciente con gran éxito. ¿Qué es la reconstrucción mamaria autóloga? La reconstrucción mamaria autóloga consiste en utilizar el tejido y los vasos sanguíneos subyacentes de otra área del cuerpo de la propia paciente para crear un seno nuevo y suave después de una mastectomía. ¿Por qué a veces las mujeres son rechazadas por los cirujanos plásticos o se les dicen que no son buenas candidatas para la reconstrucción mamaria Continue Reading →

Whitney’s Story: Prophylactic Mastectomy and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Terri

Our Journey personal story takes place this week with my neighbor. It is Whitney’s story of prophylactic mastectomy and DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Whitney has the genetic mutation for ATM and CHEK2 putting her at very high risk for breast cancer. She is a young woman in her mid-thirties who very much wants to be a part of her children’s’ lives. Whitney will be having her surgery when they are one and four years old. She was the tender age of 24 when she watched her own mother die of breast cancer. She was her caregiver so her decision to undergo prophylactic mastectomy and DIEP flap has not been easy. Here is her story. A Neighbor on the Journey from Mastectomy to Breast Reconstruction I am blessed. Each day I engage with an amazing group of women on the Facebook page I administer, The Journey. When I found out Whitney Continue Reading →

Recovery from Breast Reconstruction: A bit like the Winter Doldrums?

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Terri

Does recovery from breast reconstruction seem a bit like making it through the winter doldrums? Sometimes, yes, it does. The recovery period, for any breast reconstruction takes a bit of time. However, if you have had any type of autologous (using your own tissue) breast reconstruction you will be recovering for a few weeks. Long, cold, snowy, winter days when you can’t get out of the house reminds me of my own recovery from DIEP flap surgery. Fatigue and Recovery from Breast Reconstruction You will be fatigued for a few weeks after surgery. Your body is working overtime to rid itself of the effects of anesthesia. You are also in healing mode so it will take a lot out of you when you are released from hospital. I often tell women I knew when I was getting back to normal when suddenly one day, I no longer needed my daily Continue Reading →