Category: News

Microsoft Give, Breast Cancer, Our True Outreach and Influence

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Five years ago, I began making yearly presentations at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington for their volunteer days known as Microsoft Give. Give days are part of their corporate responsibility when employees share time, donations, and skill. It was a sunny day in the Pacific Northwest as I rolled into the massive new parking lot of the Microsoft campus in Redmond in mid-October of 2023. My car was loaded with care package items the Microsoft team would be assembling after I presented my talk entitled, “Microsoft Give, Breast Cancer, Our True Outreach and Influence”. From their website this phrase could not have been more accurate the day I was there. Microsoft employees are passionate about giving time, money, and skills to address the issues facing our world. Microsoft Corporate Social Responsibility Breast Cancer Call to Action at Microsoft Give Day What is the issue facing our world attendees would be helping Continue Reading →

Episode 39 The London Breast Meeting Recap

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This podcast was recorded prior to The London Breast Meeting with the Rob Pupelis and Elizabeth Van Thillo of T-Stat along with Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo of PRMA. The meeting took place in early September at the Royal College of Physicians. Shortly after the recording this summer, Dr. C posted on his LinkedIn account. He stated, “Great way to kick off a Saturday! Looking forward to part two at the London Breast Meeting!” This blog summary of Episode 39 of the DiepCJourney podcast is the London Breast Meeting Recap and what took place those fantastic days during the conference. We will call it part three! Rob Shares His Thoughts on Discovery at the London Breast Meeting I invited my guests to share a realistic analysis of what they expected to get from the conference. Beyond the travel, there is a great amount of thought and preparation that goes into attending conferences optimizing Continue Reading →

“The Patient Voice Has Been Heard!”

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This was a huge week in the world of patient advocacy. Across social media airwaves, we learned that the S-codes for autologous breast reconstruction will be retained. It was a monumental accomplishment achieved because of the efforts of many organizations, surgeons, and breast cancer survivors across the United States. The title of this blog, “The Patient Voice Has Been Heard”, is a quote from someone who is a huge proponent of patient advocacy. I will reveal who the quote is from at the end of this blog. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) held a public hearing on June 1 of this year after a great deal of concern regarding news that S-codes covering autologous breast reconstruction would be sunset on December 31, 2024. The time frame alone struck fear in those planning reconstruction like DIEP flap. The victory hearing this decision was reversed by the voice of many Continue Reading →

We are Not Sleeping: Protect Women’s Health and Access to DIEP Flap

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The publish date of this blog is July 22, 2023. If you look at the 2023 Congressional Calendar, you will find a “white out” section in the month of August. The United States Senate and House will both be on summer recess. I wish to inform all of Congress that we are not sleeping and continue our work to protect women’s health and access to DIEP flap. When faced with breast cancer and loss of breasts, there are several decisions to make. One of the most important decisions is whether to reconstruct your breasts or remain flat. Either way, it is a women’s choice and right to do so after the effects of a breast cancer diagnosis. DIEP flap is the most advanced, and in fact the best medical choice for reconstruction for many women. It is in danger of not being available to many and we are concerned. Our Continue Reading →

Democratization in Microsurgery: The Proximie System

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Democratization is a noun. The meaning of democratization as it pertains to microsurgery is the action of making training and education available through technology, in this case, microsurgery in breast reconstruction. The chosen field of microsurgery requires hours of training and practice. Observing colleagues perform this sophisticated and complex surgery increases their own skill set with the primary goal being improving patient outcomes in breast reconstruction. My guests are going to discuss their cross-continental experience working live in the operating theater practicing democratization in microsurgery using the Proximie System. An Introduction of the Microsurgeons Using the Proximie System I invited back to the DiepCJourney podcast two internationally known microsurgeons. Dr. Joe Dusseldorp practices in Sydney, Australia and is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of surgeons. He has a keen interest in microsurgery and did his training overseas to achieve this status. He is also trained to do robotic Continue Reading →

My Book Review of “After Breast Cancer”

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I want to thank the author, Sara Liyanage, and her publishers, Sheldon Press, for sending Sara’s book, After Breast Cancer, so that I may read and review it. The name itself appeals to me. Survivorship after breast cancer is not only important but can mean many things to those of us who have gone through it. I am honored to share my book review of After Breast Cancer. From Cover to Cover a Quick Summary When I taught students how to “get to know” a book these are things that I would tell them. In every sense of the word, after I took my own advice and went through these steps myself, I was ready to dig into Sara’s book. How After Breast Cancer Speaks to so Many Did you feel as though you were free falling after finishing all your treatments? Were there days when you weren’t sure what Continue Reading →

Introducing BulbPendant for Drain Management During Breast Surgery

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The perfect solution for the management of Jackson Pratt bulb drains. From the HandandHand Medical website Successful recovery depends on the ability to heal without worry. But as physicians, patients and caregivers know, bulb drains are incredibly stressful. After surgery, the bulbs are loose, and patients do not know what to do with them. Drains can also become dislodged, requiring another procedure to replace them. BulbPendant for drain management during breast reconstruction not only solves these problems it relieves patients of the stress of dealing with bulb drains. Eliminating learning curves is a huge advantage. They (BP) are simple, so intuitive, it’s self-explanatory fitting 99% of all patients. The patient simply bows their head, keeping their elbows down at their sides while the neoprene band slides over their shoulders. The drain bulbs insert into the mesh pedant and easily clip into place, 30 seconds and you are done. BP is designed Continue Reading →

Cancer Survivors Day 2023

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I did not title this blog “National Cancer Survivors Day” for one reason. Cancer is an international disease. How it is treated, the access to care, the stories of cancer survivors are global. We should celebrate every cancer survivor around the world, every day. I am glad there is one day set aside to honor us and bring awareness to what being a cancer survivor is. I salute all of us this year on Cancer Survivors Day 2023. Living “With a History of Cancer” Many are confused by the word ‘survivor’, but I feel this is a well-defined statement. There is a website dedicated to Cancer Survivors Day. This is the statement from their website. According to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, administrator for the celebration, “A ‘survivor’ is anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.” National Cancer Continue Reading →

Education about DIEP Flap: One Simple Rule

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Can we assign one simple rule regarding education about DIEP flap breast reconstruction? Yes, this one simple rule is to listen. This is where it begins. I have learned from patients and surgeons that listening is the first action required to educate. It reveals what is important for patients and what they desire to understand about the process and decision to have DIEP flap. I have learned from surgeons it is important for patients to take the time to listen to surgeons to understand what they can achieve for a patient in a DIEP flap consultation.   My Introduction and Education about DIEP Flap I was a student in April of 2014 during my second diagnosis of breast cancer. In the months following my double mastectomy I did what I now tell others to do. “Do your homework to find the right plastic surgeon”. I listened to all breast reconstruction Continue Reading →

My Letter to CMS

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I am a two-time breast cancer survivor. My first diagnosis I had left chest radiation that left me with tethered tissue that affected my range of motion and ability to sleep on my left side. Because of this, DIEP flap was the only safe breast reconstruction option for me. Had I had implants along with an expander placed first, I ran a very high risk of infection and further breakdown of the tissue due to the radiation. This is my letter to CMS preserving women’s right to choose DIEP flap. Instead, my highly skilled micro-surgeon removed a great deal of the scar tissue that resulted from the radiation and replaced it with new, soft tissue from the DIEP flap he performed on me twelve years after my first diagnosis. I now lay comfortably on my left side. Additionally, my range of motion is greatly improved. Patient Stories to CMS I Continue Reading →