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Breast Cancer and Breast Reconstruction Awareness Year Round

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The month of October is coming to an end. I read many valuable posts across all social media accounts during breast cancer awareness month using the hashtag #BCAM. Some even called it breast cancer action month. I like that. One day out of this month was set aside for male breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, and breast reconstruction awareness day. That is fantastic to bring this awareness but, my tag line during October, “No Pink Today” simply means I feel we need have breast cancer and breast reconstruction awareness year round. Why Breast Cancer Awareness is Important Year-Round Statistics do not lie. This is taken from The American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures 2022. In the US in 2022, invasive breast cancer will be newly diagnosed in an estimated 287,850 women and 2,710 men, with an additional 51,400 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) diagnosed Continue Reading →

The Power of Education, Connections, and Giving

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I moved back to Seattle in late 2018 to be near family. The following year, in October of 2019 I met with a team at Microsoft for the first time to present my story as a patient advocate, nonprofit leader, and two-time breast cancer survivor. Each October since then, I speak to teams at Microsoft providing information and education on the topic of breast reconstruction during their Microsoft Give Day. Each year I do these presentations I am inspired by the power of education, connections, and giving. How is the Power of Education Spreading? I often discuss this with my life-long friend, Thomas, who so generously sets these meetings up for me each year along with his Microsoft colleagues. We know, according to statistic from The National Breast Cancer Foundation, that one in eight women in the United States alone will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. The United States! Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Transitions and Changes

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This week marks the beginning of the autumn equinox when the sun shines directly on the equator and the northern and southern hemisphere get the same amount of sun rays. I live in the Northern hemisphere. The days grow shorter and the nights longer because the Earth begins to tilt away from the sun. Seasons bring changes. There are comparisons to draw with the arrival of fall and with breast reconstruction transitions and changes. Breast Reconstruction Changes in our Bodies Many anticipate the changes fall brings. I look forward to the chill in the air and the warm clothing in my closet waiting to be worn and layered to keep me warm. Just as the leaves change color from green to brilliant hues of orange, golds, and browns, so too our bodies change during breast reconstruction. Leaves transition and let go of the tree, falling gracefully on the ground during Continue Reading →

Episode 9: Shared Decision-Making

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When it comes to making decisions in your healthcare, my guest, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo and I present the first in a series on the topic of shared decision-making in the summary of Episode 9: Shared Decision-Making on the DiepCJourney podcast. Toliman Health was founded by Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, an internationally recognized expert in breast cancer reconstruction and shared decision-making. Dr. Chrysopoulo is the creator of Toliman’s flagship app, Breast Advocate® As co-leads of the WHIS Shared Decision-Making Expert Group our goal is to facilitate the adoption and practice of shared decision-making (SDM) throughout healthcare systems and across all medical disciplines. The “why” of the informative approach to decisions in healthcare is multi-faceted. It encompasses the patient’s preferences, values, support system, and expectations for outcomes. Back to Our Favorite Topic: Shared Decision-Making It is important in so many ways. Shared decision-making is not actually a new concept. It has been around since the 1980’s. Being one of Continue Reading →

Oncoplastic Surgery after a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

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Dr. Lashan Peiris, an oncoplastic and reconstructive breast and general surgeon in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, discusses oncoplastic surgery after a breast cancer diagnosis. He defines the term oncoplastic breast surgery, describes the type of conversation he has with his patients, and who might be a candidate for this type of surgery after a breast cancer diagnosis. Shared Decision-Making in Oncoplastic Surgery When a person is diagnosed with breast cancer the healthcare team should work together to coordinate patient care to determine the best long-term survival and quality of life choices in treatment and surgery. Dr. Peiris makes a profound statement, “Gone are the days where we as breast surgeons walk into a room, tell a lady she’s got breast cancer, and walk out five minutes later.” Dr. Peiris continues his discussion by describing the shared decision-making process in breast cancer and breast surgery care. All aspects of the patient’s life Continue Reading →

The Gifts We Know Mean so Much after Breast Reconstruction

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Each weekday morning, I wake up, fix coffee, and sit at the computer in my office. I open Facebook and read the comments on the DiepCjourney private page I started and admin. Questions are answered, members share resources, and it  feels like a warm place to start my morning. Recently, I posted this infographic asking members, “What would you add to this list”? These are the gifts we know mean so much after breast reconstruction. Insights for Gifts from the Heart after Breast Reconstruction Surgery These ideas are taken directly from the comments members of the Journey willingly shared. They showed extreme gratitude for those who gave their time and treasure to these ladies when they were recovering from surgery and undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Listened, listened, listened. Have space for all the feelings. The best gift I got from people was grace…grace for forgotten meetings, grace for bad Continue Reading →

Episode 2: Sexual Health Needs After Cancer

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Dr. Don Dizon is our guest on season 2, Episode 2: Sexual Health Needs After Cancer, of the DiepCJourney podcast. What are we discussing? Sexual health needs after cancer, a topic patients often have to bring up themselves to discuss with health care providers. Dr. Dizon tells us why this is the case and empowers patients with information to talk about this with specialists in cancer care regarding sexual health needs after cancer.  Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO is Director of the Pelvic Malignancies Program and Founder of the Oncology Sexual Health First Responders Program, Lifespan Cancer Institute. He is the director of medical oncology at Rhode Island Hospital. Be sure to check out the DiepCFoundation YouTube video on the same topic with Dr. Dizon. What is the Definition of Sexual Health Needs After Cancer? I begin by recognizing the topic of sexual health is not often spoken about in clinic. Continue Reading →

The Intersection of Research and Decision for Breast Reconstruction

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One day your life is humming along as usual. Work, children, family, friends, school, house cleaning, errands, vacation, cooking, on and on. Then out of nowhere you hear the news that feels like a gut punch. “You have breast cancer.” Perhaps you get genetic test results back and you find out you have a genetic mutation putting you at high risk of getting breast cancer. You are thrust into a new role finding out all you can about your diagnosis. Will I be facing a mastectomy or choose a mastectomy for my treatment? When will the intersection of research and decision for breast reconstruction occur? The Research Process Why am I writing about this? I agonized over this part of my breast cancer diagnosis when I was told my best choice for my long-term survival was a double mastectomy. It was my second diagnosis and now in both breasts vs. Continue Reading →

Virtual Attendance at World Urban Forum 2022

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This past week, beginning June 26 and running through June 30, 2022, world leaders of all ages and levels of leadership gathered in Katowice, Poland for #WUF11. It was thrilling to be in virtual attendance at the World Urban Forum 2022. What I learned, who I connected with, and what inspired me is summarized in this blog post. Why I Attended World Urban Forum Virtually Let me give you a bit of background on the purpose of the World Urban Forum. Here is the explanation than from the organization on their website. The WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid ubanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 and has been held around the world ever since. World Urban Forum At Continue Reading →

Function and Management of Breast Reconstruction Drains

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The DiepCJourney Facebook group has members from all over the world. The purpose of the group is to nurture an ongoing learning community with people affected by breast cancer and those who serve breast cancer patients. A request was made to make a video about surgical drains. It is not a favorite part of recover but certainly necessary. I sat down with Dr. Randall Feingold of NYBRA, New York Breast and Reconstruction and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to discuss the function and management of breast reconstruction drains. Why Drains Are Placed at the Surgical Sites I start off the conversation by sharing my own experience with drains for my double mastectomy and DIEP flap. The general consensus from patients is that drains are not something that anyone likes. I feel when patients understand why they are being used, they become a bit more tolerable, especially knowing they are a short-term part Continue Reading →