Category: Breast Reconstruction

Episode 10: Male Breast Cancer

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Male breast cancer will be diagnosed in about 2,650 men this year according to Breast Cancer.org. A leading patient advocate for the Male Breast Cancer Coalition bringing awareness to male breast cancer is our guest on episode 10: Male Breast Cancer, of the DiepCJourney podcast. Michael Singer and his wife Patty share the poignant story of his sister’s death from metastatic breast cancer and how if formed his fierce work in patient advocacy. He has become a strong voice bringing awareness that breast cancer does not discriminate and touches the lives of men, too. The Breast Cancer Diagnosis In 2010, Michael felt a lump under his left nipple about the size of a tip of a pencil eraser. Patty advised him to tell his doctor at his routine annual physical exam. Did he? No. Patty asked Michael why he did not tell him. His answer, “Because I was embarrassed”. That Continue Reading →

DiepCJourney Private Facebook Group: A Safe Place to Land

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Social Media is a way for others to connect in communities to discuss like-minded topics. I began the private Facebook group, DiepCJourney: Breast Reconstruction after mastectomy, in May of 2015. The purpose of the group is to inform those who are facing or have had a mastectomy about all their breast reconstruction options and choices. This includes the surgical option for no reconstruction, aesthetic flat closure. We are a global community. We want DiepCJourney Facebook group to be your safe place to land. DiepCJourney Facebook Discusses all Options The chest wall is the scaffold of the surgeon. The decision to reconstruct after a mastectomy is supported  whether you choose implants, use your own tissue (autologous reconstruction), a combination of both, a lumpectomy, or no reconstruction, referred to as aesthetic flat closure. This requires decision making. On DiepCJourney and at the Founding organization, DiepCFoundation, we promote the idea of shared decision-making. Continue Reading →

Episode 12: Patient Advocacy and Health Disparities

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Roberta Albany is a formidable breast cancer patient advocate and spokesperson for health disparities. Her work with Living Beyond Breast Cancer and in her own community at Cancer in the Know has gained her great respect and why I am excited to interview this friend and colleague in the breast cancer space for Episode 12: Patient Advocacy and Health Disparities for the DiepCJourney Podcast.  The Making of a Patient Advocate Roberta did not set out to be a spokesperson and patient advocate for the breast cancer community. Her diagnosis defined her role and lead her to this work. She describes her experience with the diagnosis she received in October of 2013. Bobbi found a lump while training for a half marathon with her running group, Black Girls Run. She could not remember if she had done her monthly self-breast exam. She recalls her breast had been bothering her, especially the left side. Upon doing her Continue Reading →

Cancer Survivor’s Day: Thoughts from Personal Journeys

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Days on the calendar reminding us of what we love, embrace, are actively involved in, and remind us that these commemorative days fill us with emotions, good and bad. There are holidays that have been on the calendar throughout history. Social media has caused new and interesting ones celebrating food, fun, and other trivial items uniting those who join in. Cancer Survivor’s Day, from my research, began in 1988. What does it mean to those who have survived? I decided to listen to those in my community and share thoughts on Cancer Survivor’s Day and some thoughts from personal Journeys. DiepCJourney: Thoughts on Cancer Survivor’s Day I began the closed Facebook group, DiepCJourney: Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy in May of 2015 after my successful DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Being a two-time breast cancer survivor impacts my life daily. I decided support, finding resources, providing education for others would be my Continue Reading →

Breast Cancer: Is it Ever a Side Note?

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A breast cancer diagnosis changes life forever. There is no instruction book on how to deal with a diagnosis, only the glut of information that one attempts to digest after being told they have breast cancer. It can feel like drinking from a fire hose sometimes. Can breast cancer ever be a side note? The diagnosis feels like being sucked into a vortex pulling the patient in along with their family, friends, and caregivers. The cavernous vacuum fills with emotions, appointments, unknown treatment, costs, lifetime side effects from surgery, and create unintended changes in most people’s lives. Unknowns lurk around dark corners. Some are agonizing to deal with. Other unknowns of a breast cancer diagnosis can be quite transforming in an enlightening way. Long lasting impact of Breast Cancer How do you set it aside, so it becomes a side note? Can a breast cancer diagnosis be a less important Continue Reading →

A Mother’s Day Tribute

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When I think of all the mothers who are involved with those having DIEP flap breast reconstruction or any kind of breast surgery, it warms my heart. There are those Moms who are no longer with us who are so deeply rooted to their daughters they have inspired them to make this tough choice when affected by breast cancer. They are worthy of a Mother’s Day tribute. Mothers Having Breast Reconstruction Your arms are used for hugging, wiping tears, working, cleaning, and caring. It may be tender moments, angry moments, gross and disgusting moments but you chose this title and roll with the punches. For Moms who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or having surgery to reduce their risk of getting breast cancer you are thrown into a world you never intended to be in. You wonder how you will even tell your children you may have to lose Continue Reading →

Episode 8: ERAS Protocol in Breast Reconstruction

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Are fear of pain and time of recovery after breast reconstruction surgery some of your biggest concerns? If so, Episode 8: ERAS Protocol in Breast Reconstruction, with Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo will give you information about ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) protocol many large volume centers are now using for DIEP flap and other types of breast reconstruction. Dr. C is the president of  PRMA in San Antonio and the developer of the Breast Advocate app. Both of these sites have more information about ERAS protocol as well as the DiepCJourney blog and  DiepC Foundation YouTube channel.  Why Use ERAS? There is a shared interest Dr. C and I share in having this conversation. He states it very clearly at the beginning of the podcast. The number one beneficiary is patient experience and patient outcomes. There are substantial data and evidence-based studies about results of using ERAS and the benefits it offers patients. In fact, follow the directions below and Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Clubhouse Discussion

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This past week, I was fortunate to have Roberta Albany and Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo join me as moderators for a breast reconstruction clubhouse discussion. Clubhouse is a fairly new app for iPhone users. The sessions generally last an hour in length. Think of it as a casual phone conversation with the members who join. It is not recorded, or at least does not have that feature yet. There are moderators who can invite those who “raise their hand” using an icon on the app to come “up to the stage”. They are invited to speak by a moderator when they raise their hand. Once invited to speak, they unmute their microphone to begin their question, comment, or thoughts. The topic I chose was “Breast Reconstruction Concerns and Questions Answered”. The discussion and information provided by Roberta and Dr. C was both enlightening and informative. I want to provide some of Continue Reading →

What Patients Can Teach You About Breast Cancer PTSD

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I wrote a blog on this topic regarding my own experience with PTSD after a breast cancer diagnosis. In fact, it was after my second breast cancer diagnosis. There are times when blogs are inspired in ways I did not see coming. After sharing it in my closed Facebook group my heart dropped reading the comments from others about their experience. I was amazed at what patients can teach you about breast cancer PTSD. I asked them how they deal with PTSD after breast cancer. They provided honest answers, some heart wrenching and some with resources to share within the group. Here is some what some patients shared about their own struggles. Sleep Deprivation and PTSD after Breast Cancer Sleep seemed to be illusive to some. They reported crying all day exhausting themselves into a nap. But then they did not sleep at night. This became a vicious cycle. One Continue Reading →

Episode 4: Coordinated Care in Breast Cancer

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Have you been diagnosed with breast cancer or at high risk of getting breast cancer due to a genetic mutation? Do you remember the day you heard those words and got the news? How many healthcare providers did you have on your team? In Episode 4 we discuss the importance of coordinated care in breast cancer. My guest is an educator, microsurgeon and Director for MedStar Plastic and Reconstruction surgery and Academic Chair for the Department of Plastic Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center, Dr. David H. Song. He chairs the BC3 Conference in Washington, D. C. The purpose of the conference as stated from the website: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women. Diagnosis and treatments are part of the practice of a wide number of medical specialists and there are national initiatives calling for a multidisciplinary approach to the care of breast cancer patients. The multiple Continue Reading →