News Archives - Page 8 of 22

Breast Reconstruction Photo Sharing: Should We?

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Terri

This is a multifaceted question with a range of answers. I face this question a lot. Those who are considering breast reconstruction want to know what their post-surgery body and breasts will look like. I know I did. There are a variety of situations those affected by breast cancer are portrayed in media and photography. I want to share my personal thoughts, tell you a touching story, and consider the answer to the title of this blog, “Breast Reconstruction Photo Sharing: Should We?” Public Breast Reconstruction Photo Sharing The media and those in business have an end result, to reach a wide audience and to draw them in. This is often done through artistic and visual enticement. There is a certain curiosity and arousal that is the end goal to draw people into an article, event, photo, or social media post. I understand the business aspect of this, but I Continue Reading →

Microsurgery in Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Terri

I had the opportunity to attend the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons meeting recently. As a patient advocate attending, I was particularly focused on microsurgery in breast reconstruction after mastectomy. It gave me the chance to have in depth conversations with plastic surgeons who dedicate intense hours of training to become microsurgeons. The conference attendees included medical students interested in this specialty, plastic surgeons who are currently in fellowship training for microsurgery, and those seasoned veterans sharing the latest techniques and methods of surgical skills to achieve optimal outcomes for patients. The ASRM conference took place at a hotel with all of the sessions easily accessible. This conference felt comfortable, informal, and intimate to me. These microsurgeons reflected the feeling, this group is like a small tribe who understand the rigors of microsurgical training and how it can positively change the lives of patients. Why Should you Find a Microsurgeon Continue Reading →

How to Join the BC3 Twitter Talk in Five Easy Steps

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Terri

BC3C is the Breast Cancer Coordinated Care Interdisciplinary Conference being held in Washington, D.C. February 27-29, 2020. This conference includes a wide range of medical specialists who care for breast cancer patients. As an introduction to what the conference will be about, you can join us on January 24, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET to find out more. This blog will tell you how to join the BC3 Twitter Talk in five easy steps. Step One of Participating in the BC3 Twitter Talk You will need to have a Twitter account. It’s very easy to open one if you do not have one now. Open Twitter from your computer, phone or tablet. You will then need to type in your phone number or email address in the first text box. After that, set up the password you want to use. Participating in Twitter Talk is a bit easier Continue Reading →

Why I Can’t Wait for the New Decade in Breast Reconstruction

Posted on January 4, 2020 by Terri

We have sent best wishes for the New Year to our social media friends. This year ushered in a new decade. Many of us wonder how things will change in the next ten years. This blog may be my time capsule for the upcoming decade. I would like to check back in 2030 to see what items in this blog will change and improve and why I can’t wait for the new decade in Breast Reconstruction. A New Decade of Shared Decision Making in Breast Reconstruction The topic of shared decision-making is at the top of my list. The practice of shared decision-making with the plastic surgeon who performed my DIEP flap is what made my breast reconstruction so successful. I see progress! Dr. Chrysopoulo developed a decision making tool, the Breast Advocate app, this past decade to give patients a voice in their decision making with their health care Continue Reading →

A Simple Note of Gratitude

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Terri

I was raised to have a grateful heart. I have come to appreciate this value my parents taught me. They modeled the importance of expressing gratitude frequently with friends, family, and even strangers. Mom and Dad always said gratitude should be given freely from the heart, expecting nothing in return. I dedicate this blog to an individual I have known for five years. I encourage the reader to take the time to acknowledge those in your life who have made a difference, large or small, either publicly or privately with a simple note of gratitude from your heart. Moments in life are sweet and precious, tenuous and unpredictable. We don’t always know the direction our lives will take. There are the planners and the gypsies. I have always considered myself a planner with a bit of gypsy spirit. A plan I put in place in 2014 was to complete my Continue Reading →

Nutrition and Diet after DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Terri

Are you more aware of your nutrition and diet after DIEP flap breast reconstruction? I certainly am and I hear the same from many women. When breast cancer is the driving reason behind having this intricate surgery, it is little wonder nutrition and diet become a focus for so many. At the same time, I hear a lot of inquiry about what is the best way to eat a healthy nutritious diet after breast reconstruction. The one factor that changes this is the “tightening down” of the tummy during this surgery. With the tummy tissue being used to reconstruct the breast, the tummy area is pulled down similar to a tummy tuck. Many women talk about the feeling of having less room, filling up quicker, and feeling like they can’t eat as much after DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Where do your Food Values about Nutrition and Diet come from? The Continue Reading →

DiepC Journey Facebook Group Hit 4,000 Members!

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Terri

DiepC Journey Facebook Group Hit 4,000 Members! Facebook members on DiepC Journey, Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy, can be very active in the evenings. This happens when members have some alone time after dinner, work, and putting the children to bed. I hopped on last night. I noticed a lot of activity and questions being asked. Then something incredible happened. I looked at the number of members as I approved some new requests to join. I was a bit shocked to find out the Journey hit 4,000 members. DiepC Journey Facebook Group and 4,000 Members Around the Globe I am in awe of this group because it is specific to breast reconstruction after mastectomy. That is our common bond. On World Kindness Day I asked members to check in to tell each other where they were from. This group continues to practice kindness toward each other in unexpected ways. They checked Continue Reading →

How Do You Give to Nonprofits During Giving Season?

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Terri

The fourth quarter of each year is an important time for nonprofit organizations to begin “the ask” to bring awareness and raise funds for their cause. Corporations and individuals not only look for organizations to support for an end-of-year tax deduction, but larger corporations often have company matching programs to benefit nonprofit organizations. How do you give to nonprofits during giving season? The Microsoft Employee Giving Program for Nonprofits My experience at Microsoft for their “Day of Learning” made a positive impact on DiepCFoundation.org. It is the nonprofit organization I started after my own successful breast reconstruction following a double mastectomy. It began by contacting a friend at the Redmond, Washington, Microsoft campus. We discussed a plan that would benefit both the employees and the Foundation. It was imperative to me we bring awareness about the work and mission of the Foundation. Through Microsoft’s “Day of Learning” program I was Continue Reading →

A Network of Support Through your Breast Reconstruction Journey

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Terri

It is an honor to present a project I was asked to participate in. The focus of the project is patient centered stories in breast reconstruction. Emphasis is placed on the shared decision-making model for patients through their own personal breast reconstruction Journey. The program is available in a video presented on a Balancing Act segment of Lifetime Television and embedded in this blog for you to watch. It is truly a network of support through your breast reconstruction Journey. Rebecca’s Network of Support I was approached by Mentor to participate in the project. It did not take me long to know my voice was an important part of the network of support. The story focused on Rebecca, a young woman who tested positive for the BRCA 2 gene. She sought guidance from a genetic counselor after watching her mother go through breast cancer. She knew she was at higher Continue Reading →