Category: Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Episode 7: Lobular Breast Cancer

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In episode 7 of the DiepCJourney podcast we are discussing lobular breast cancer, also known as invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), with Leigh Pate. Lobular breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed type of invasive breast cancer. Often an understudied subtype of breast cancer I ask Leigh to join me on the podcast to help our followers understand more about it. Leigh founded the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA) in 2017 and continues to work as a research advocate in the breast cancer and ovarian/fallopian tube cancer community. Leigh and I both have had lobular breast cancer. I have tucked my diagnosis, both of them, away in files and don’t pull them out to often. This is my way of coping with two diagnosis of breast cancer. Connecting with Leigh, precipitated my need to talk about this. Our goal is to explain lobular breast cancer to patients who have it Continue Reading →

A Celebration of 10K Breast Reconstruction Flaps

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On May 21, 2022, I will be back in San Antonio, Texas for a celebration of 10K breast reconstruction flaps. This event is put together by the plastic surgery group who did my DIEP flap surgery in December of 2014. This day holds great significance for me. I am grateful to PRMA for their fantastic efforts and support putting this 10K race together to celebrate the 10K flap surgeries they have performed for those affected by breast cancer. Thank you to the sponsors who are generously supporting this race. Honoring All the Patients Who Have Chosen Flap Surgery The 10K breast reconstruction flaps race is being held in San Antonio. The real honor goes to ladies across the world who have chosen or are planning flap surgery after being affected by breast cancer and losing their breasts to the disease. Over the years since I started my nonprofit organization, DiepCFoundation, Continue Reading →

Lessons from Mom Before, During, and After Breast Cancer

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I want to start with a gentle reminder that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a mom like I do. Some Moms have passed and are missed dearly. Others are not present physically or emotionally even though they are still alive. On Mother’s Day, it is important to be sensitive to this when we speak to others. We cannot assume that they celebrate Mother’s Day. It anguishes me to think what my own sweet mom went through learning I had breast cancer, not once, but twice. I am fortunate to be able to share the experiences and lessons from Mom before, during, and after breast cancer. Lessons from Mom Before Breast Cancer I am one of four girls born to my parents. However, I never knew one of my sisters who died shortly after a full-term pregnancy. My mom sorrowfully anguished over this, most of the time, with dignity Continue Reading →

Can We Drive Change in Breast Sensation Through Webinar Attendance?

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We have become accustomed to attending online webinars. One I have watched from inception is the iBreastBook webinars. It was designed by oncoplastic breast surgeon Yazan Masannat. He is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. I continually learn from these webinars and appreciate the global presence of presenters and attendees. Yazan is driving change in breast surgery by exploring the latest surgical techniques in breast surgery in these online learning opportunities. The most recent one I attended I ask myself; can we drive change in breast sensation through webinar attendance?” Why is Driving Change in Breast Sensation Important to Me? The title of the webinar I am commenting on is, Mastectomy: What is New. The presenters were an impressive group of international surgeons in breast surgery. They are as follows: I am a patient who has experienced successful return of sensation to my breasts after DIEP flap breast reconstruction. It is equally Continue Reading →

Tribal Unity Sends all the Right Messages in Breast Cancer

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You may be familiar with the long running American television series, “Survivor.” The premise of the show is that each team begins on different tribes. At the end, the real benefits and strength of the team are when the separate tribes join together creating one tribal union. Alliances form and tribes forge through adversity. This is when tribal unity sends all the right messages in breast cancer in my corner of the patient advocate world. This is familiar to me in the world of breast cancer, breast surgery, and breast reconstruction. As a patient advocate, I see a variety of platforms on social media helping communities affected by breast cancer. I watch these separate entities support specific biology types of breast cancer, gender specific breast cancer, ethnic specific breast cancer communities, wellness and survivorship, and the various choices made in the decision process for treatment and surgery. They run a Continue Reading →

Fatigued by Being Affected by Breast Cancer?

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People are affected by breast cancer in many ways. A person diagnosed can be fatigued from treatments. Some effects may seem short-term after finishing chemotherapy, radiation, or having surgery. Those in the metastatic breast cancer community have life-long effects they face for the remainder of their lives. I am speaking of the long-term effects of fatigue and being affected by breast cancer in both of these groups. The Fatigue that Effects Daily Living        Fatigue from breast cancer can come in many forms. You may feel physically fatigued from having surgery or undergoing treatment. It disrupts your body’s system causing it to work overtime during the healing process. As you sit in your chair feeling this way, you may become sad, feeling helpless, as you watch others trying to take care of you when perhaps a week or month before surgery or treatment you were the one taking care of others. Continue Reading →

Episode 17: Journey of the Caregiver

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Caregivers are called upon in the most unexpected ways through disease, an accident, surgery, or treatment. This is the story and journey of a thousand miles, two breast cancer diagnoses, multiple surgeries, and the story of how my son, Brian, taught me more about this role and what it means to be a compassionate caregiver on Episode 17: Journey of the Caregiver, on the DiepCJourney podcast. No Instruction Book for a Caregiver When a friend or loved one faces a health event and you know they will need assistance, your call to duty to be a caregiver begins. There is no payment for this role and certainly no instruction book. Both the patient and the caregiver shift their daily routine and begin to think in terms of strategy to help the patient. Considerations can include any or all of the following: This can all become overwhelming and require a great Continue Reading →

Episode 9: Optimal Flat Closure in Breast Surgery

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It is important for patients considering any kind of breast reconstruction to be informed and educated  about all your options. My guest on the DiepCJourney podcast are two microsurgeons from Midwest Breast and Aesthetic Surgery in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Pankaj Tiwari and Dr. Ergun Kocak worked and trained together at Ohio State. “All things in Columbus come back to THE Ohio State University” as Dr. Tiwari states. They are two ideal surgeons to discuss the topic on episode 9, optimal flat closure. The Change in Breast Surgery Terms I stated in the podcast during my surgical consultation in 2002, correction, I meant to say 2014, I was not given the options for optimal flat closure. There is a reason I was not. The procedure, closure after mastectomy, has been around for an exceptionally long time. The change that has taken place recently is in the terminology used with emphasis on Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Nipple Tattoo Artistry Experience

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This story is about three friends in vastly separate places in their lives, uniquely connected through the breast cancer experience, and a narrative of a breast reconstruction nipple tattoo artistry experience. Whitney’s Breast Reconstruction Story I met Whitney in 2019 shortly after moving back to Seattle. Our past connections are uncanny. We remain friends and the story behind how it came to be still warms my heart. You can read more about it in this blog and how Whitney’s genetic mutation for ATM and CHEK2 put her at high risk for getting breast cancer. She completed her breast reconstruction Journey traveling to San Antonio having her DIEP flap performed at PRMA. Whitney communicated with me while she was in Texas revealing how pleased she was with her surgery. My heart was happy to hear about support from her husband and other Journey members living in the San Antonia area. Because Continue Reading →

Episode 24: Sexual Health Program for Cancer Patients

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Sharon Bober, PhD, Psychologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Assistant Professor in the department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, chats with us on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast. I met Sharon through the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer where she is the current chair of this organization. Our topic in this blog summary of the podcast; sexual health program for cancer patients. Why Sexual Health is not Often Talked About I feel the intimate and sometimes uncomfortable nature of the topic, sexual health, is one of the major reasons it is not often talked about at consult for cancer patients. Dr. Bober points out very few medical professionals have formal training in sexual health. Further, she points out managing sexual disfunction remains outside the bounds of normal conversation. A noticeably clear statement she makes is, “We live in a culture that is suffused with images of Continue Reading →