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Breast Reconstruction Side Effects We Wish We Knew About

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All of the breast reconstruction side effects we wish we knew about are difficult to cover in the initial consult with your reconstructive surgeon. Why you might ask? It’s simply a matter of time. The key elements of the surgery itself, patient expected outcomes, individual health related issues, medications, recovery time and  other topics need to be covered in your surgical consult with your plastic surgeon. A List of Questions to Take to Your Consult That does not excuse your plastic surgeon, however, from providing you with further information regarding side effects, coping with them, how you will feel months after your reconstructive surgery and the possible emotional and physical impact. You just have to come to the consult prepared and ask.  I would encourage you to ask the following questions during your consult: I know there are going to be unexpected side effects from this surgery. I also know Continue Reading →

With Cool Weather Brings More Writing

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Cool weather brings more writing and so I’ve accepted a personal challenge.  November 2015 #NaBloPoMo is a writing experience sponsored by @BlogHer, women and men encouraging creative voices in blogging. I was inspired to join after reading a post from BC Becky, a fellow blogger and social media connection. We are both breast cancer survivors. I honestly don’t remember how my first connection with Becky began but it was instrumental in launching my blog in March of this year, 2015. I read her instructional information regarding blogging. It was very beneficial and really motivational as I started my blog about breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. I truly had no knowledge, no idea how to blog. I set a date to open the blog knowing that would push me to actually do it. I had no expectations on its success or outreach but I had high hopes. Seven months after launching Continue Reading →

Stand Up 2 Cancer at the World Series

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Stand up 2 Cancer at the World Series on October 30, 2015, united an entire stadium to support awareness of cancer. I was introduced to the organization a few years ago through my oldest son. He followed them on Social Media so I began doing the same. SU2C’s website has the following statement: For the first time in history, we can imagine stopping cancer in its tracks. Stand Up To Cancer’s (SU2C) mission is to raise funds to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C brings together the best and the brightest researchers and mandates collaboration among the cancer community. By galvanizing the entertainment industry, SU2C has set out to generate awareness, educate the public on cancer prevention and help more people diagnosed with cancer become long-term survivors. A Detour at the World Series I admittedly have Continue Reading →

A Patient Advocacy Story

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Breast Reconstruction Awarenrss Day 2015, a patient advocacy story, begins with an inspirational moment; a moment that was a true catalyst to a new found purpose in my life. Where was the inspiration? Why would a patient become an advocate and subsequently an affiliate to promote a nationwide campaign for breast reconstruction awareness following a cancer diagnosis and mastectomy? Easy answer! The plastic surgeon I chose to do my DIEP flap surgery and the patient liaison that was my first point of contact at their group WAS my starting point. When something feels right, I move on it. It was my moment of inspiration. I was asked to share my reconstruction surgery experience with other women who were considering the same type of surgery. I wanted to pay it forward and let other women know about this group, their skill, success rate, credentials, compassion and the support of all the Continue Reading →

Coutee fighting to help others after breast cancer – Tucson Local Media: News

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Surgical Compression Garments: DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction, Revision Phase

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Surgical compression garments for revision phase of Diep Flap breast reconstruction are an important part of healing.  I can share with you what compression garments I was required to wear after phase two, the revision  surgery of my DIEP flap breast reconstruction. However, know that each of you will experience your own individual recovery and your surgeon will tell you which garments to wear based on where the fat was extracted and liposuction was done. There are similarities in the revision surgery for implants and autologous flap fat grafting in that fat is injected into areas of the breast to achieve optimal aesthetic outcomes and to make the breasts look as natural as possible. Again, it will be an individual procedure based on your body composition and where the fill will come from and where it will be re-injected to achieve symmetry and contouring.  Surgeons will discuss with you their Continue Reading →

Guest Blog ~ World Health Innovation Summit & Gareth Presch

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Guest Blog ~ World Health Innovation Summit & Gareth Presch I am pleased to share a guest blog from the World Health Innovation Summit and Mr. Gareth Presch .  Through the power and connection of Social Media across the globe I am pleased to present the work that Gareth is doing.  Through shared vision and outreach we are like-minded in our enthusiasm to reach communities to improve the health care experience.  Thank you Gareth for your work and for sharing this blog! Health touches us all, every sector, and we support sharing knowledge between those sectors to improve health and social care around the world – Gareth Presch It started with a tweet! – Gareth Presch Posted on October 11, 2015 by World Health Innovation Summit “Together, We Inspire” World Health Innovation Summit CIC – Community Led “Patients, Clinicians, Managers, Voluntary Sector, Education and Businesses” Supporting the sharing of knowledge to Continue Reading →

#IAmTheFaceOfBreastReconstruction

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#IAmTheFaceOfBreastReconstruction #IAmTheFaceOfBreastReconstruction.  October 21, 2015 is Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day 2015 in the United States. I have been an advocate and educator for all choices of Breast Reconstruction for just over a year since being diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in April of 2014. I knew I was going to be faced with a double mastectomy, but, I was informed, I was educated the day I was told I had to have a mastectomy. I was told about my options for breast reconstruction by my breast surgeon. I was fortunate. This year I learned that many women are not given that information and are not as fortunate. They are not given a referral to a plastic surgeon at the time of diagnosis. But, I also found a community of women who work tirelessly to educate and inform others about what they have gone through, what choices they Continue Reading →

#NoBraDay Done the Right Way!

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#NoBraDay Done the Right Way! Today is National #NoBraDay and should be done the Right way by choosing a reason to actually project breast cancer awareness in a constructive, valuable way. Take PRMA, for example. This is a group of class act, well-trained, compassionate surgeons whose main passion is rebuilding women’s lives after breast cancer with reconstructive plastic surgery. Today, the patient liaison at their practice decided to post this info graphic using the hash tag #NoBraDay. This is valuable. This is constructive. Awareness, education and not flaunting the day in a tasteless, disrespectful way like so many have done on Social Media. Thank you PRMA for stepping up to the plate and respecting Breast Cancer Awareness Month and #NationalNoBraDay with dignity and purpose!     And Then There is This….. National No Bra day has a Face Book page and what I find most offensive about their page is Continue Reading →

#FlashbackFriday

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#FlashbackFriday and A Chance Encounter I wanted to share a chance encounter that I had yesterday and post it for #FlashbackFriday. While I was busy doing what I’ve been calling my “boots on the ground” work to promote Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day 2015, I had a fortuitous circumstance, an encounter of compassion. Tweeting in the Stairwell My Twitter account was full of activity yesterday thanks to some overwhelming support from Social Media friends and supporters. I was at the imaging center to hand out flyers for my Breast Reconstruction Awareness event. It seemed like a logical place to drop off promotional material for women getting mammograms and screenings. I took the stairwell trying to be inconspicuous and out of the way of the patients. OK, so I was also admittedly latching on to the imaging center’s WI-Fi so I could check the craziness of my Tweets coming in. It was Continue Reading →