News Archives - Page 19 of 22

Baseline MRI after DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Terri

I went for my baseline MRI after DIEP flap breast reconstruction this week. Additionally, I had blood work drawn which I do every four months to monitor tumor markers. I actually forgot they had to inject contrast dye into my veins during the last part of the MRI; double sticks, two appointments with lots of needles! Breast MRI #1 I have been mentally preparing myself for this day for a few weeks now. The last time I had a breast MRI was in April of 2014. It was ordered by my breast surgeon to determine if a mastectomy was the best course of action after my second breast cancer diagnosis. It was the first time I ever experienced the face down position MRI; the kind where your breast are sort of hanging, or suspended in air as the images are taken. The 2014 MRI is when I had my “original” Continue Reading →

Breast Cancer Patient Education Act Passes into Law

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Terri

Breast Cancer Patient Education Act Passes into Law Today, December 18, 2015, the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act was passed into law by Congress. It is truly difficult for me to contain my enthusiasm. This bill will work to educate and inform other women about their breast reconstruction options. They will have the same advantage that I did at the time of a breast cancer diagnosis. I was fortunate that I was told about my reconstruction options by my skilled breast surgeon, Dr. Michele Ley, the day of my diagnosis. I soon came to find out through research and talking to many women that they are not given this information. They did not know about the options available to them to rebuild their body, restore their confidence and move on with life after hearing they had breast cancer or carried the BRCA gene mutation. It has been exactly one year Continue Reading →

Thankfulness

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Terri

A feeling of thankfulness is what I frequently experience when I sit at my keyboard to write. Free flowing thoughts, words, ideas about knowledge, science, medicine, health, life’s experiences are why I love the writing process. My day is not complete unless I have at the very least written down or made note of something I feel is worth writing about to inform and educate others. My daily routine consists of fixing coffee, checking my social media accounts and then organizing my day before I go on my morning walk. Often times a thought, an idea or a topic comes to mind while I am out walking and I’ll come back to my office and act on it. There is nothing like fresh air and getting that blood pumping through your system to fuel some new ideas. There are mornings though that the well seems to be dry. I think Continue Reading →

A Guest Blog from Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo: Are You A DIEP Flap Candidate?

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Terri

Are You A DIEP Flap Candidate? By Dr Chysopoulo The DIEP flap procedure has rapidly become the “gold standard” in breast reconstruction. While not every woman is a DIEP flap candidate, many are turned away when in fact they needn’t be. Typical misconceptions include: 1. Previous Abdominal Surgery – While some types of previous abdominal surgery can make the DIEP flap procedure impossible to perform, most of the time previous abdominal surgery really isn’t an issue. Many women these days have had a previous c-section or hysterectomy. It is possible for these procedures to cause damage to the blood vessels needed for DIEP flap surgery, but this is rare. A previous c-section, hysterectomy, or tubal ligation is not a contra-indication to having the procedure. If your surgeon is worried about potential damage from previous surgery then certain tests can be performed to examine the anatomy more closely. This can include Continue Reading →

When Tragedy brings out the #StrengthOfHumankind

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Terri

When Tragedy brings out the #StrengthOfHumankind Today is a day when we see that tragedy unquestionably brings out the#StrengthOfHumankind. The symbolism, pictures, music and thoughts on Social Media from around the globe are collectively trying to decompress, make sense of, and reach out to those who have suffered so needlessly after the tragic events that took place in Paris on Friday, November 13th, 2015. We know that because one person lost a life or perhaps is maimed and scarred physically and emotionally for the rest of their days that it causes a caustic ripple and vortex of sadness and confusion. A family member injured or killed affects other members of the family; a sister, a husband, a wife, a child, a community…the world! Tragedy and chaos does bring sadness, grief, and confusion but it also brings out a part of us that is the best of humankind; a hand reaching Continue Reading →

Casting for Recovery

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Terri

Casting for Recovery Casting for Recovery, is a blog post written to share my experience and to tell you about the people I met the weekend that I attended. I have shared information about this fine organization with other cancer survivors. That is how strongly I feel about the benefits of this program. I’m happy to report, I had some interested takers who signed up and they are waiting anxiously to see if they have been chosen. It is a brief and yes, sometimes emotionally intense weekend. But, it is mostly about learning the fly fishing technique and how to enjoy this peaceful and beautiful sport. The weekend is about knowing that there are moments outside of breast cancer and recovery. I want to introduce you to Kristen Kile who wrote the guest blog featured below. Kristen was our lead instructor at the event I attended. We hit it off Continue Reading →

Heart Healthy Hump Day Meals

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Terri

Here are some heart Healthy Hump Day Meals worth sharing. Many who read this blog are also interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I’ve decided to post a couple of quick, easy dishes that I’ve tried and enjoyed. I recently visited with a registered dietitian at the local Cancer Center. This is a service that is provided free to patients. She emphasized the importance of a healthy, balanced diet and we went over my current food choices and exercise routine. So today’s blog will be a fun share of a couple of those tasty dishes that are packed with nutrients but don’t take a lot of time to prepare. I think that time stops many of us from preparing fresh, whole foods. It’s easy to open a box and stir in some processed ingredients. Shopping, chopping and preparing fresh foods can take longer so I hope these recipes and the Continue Reading →

With Cool Weather Brings More Writing

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Terri

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

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Terri

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 →