News Archives - Page 9 of 22

DiepCFoundation attends the GRYT Virtual Cancer Conference

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Terri

I have attended a number of conferences as a patient advocate since opening DiepCFoundation in 2016. Traveling takes time and financial resources. I am happy to share with you a virtual conference you can attend from the comfort of your home. Come with me as DiepCFoundation attends The GRYT Virtual Cancer Conference held Saturday, October 5th, 2019. How to Participate in the GRYT Virtual Cancer Conference The conference will be “open” from 8am-9pm Eastern Standard Time. During this time, you can listen to a variety of speakers and attend breakout sessions from a number of organizations across the cancer community. You can also visit the Exhibit Hall to interact one on one with the hosts of the virtual booths. They will be available during various times of the day to answer questions from participants. Ongoing Resources after the GRYT Virtual Cancer Conference There is an added advantage and ongoing resources Continue Reading →

What is Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day?

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Terri

Each year in October, a day is set aside to provide education to women and men about what options are available for breast reconstruction. Medical practices, plastic surgeons, and organization across the country host various events inviting those who need resources and information about breast reconstruction. Attendees to BRA Day events include those affected by breast cancer. Let’s take a closer look at topics covered and answer the question of what Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is and the information it provides. Options for Breast Reconstruction Autologous breast reconstruction: Using the patient’s own tissue to reconstruction the breast. Implant-based reconstruction: Using an implant filled with silicon or gel to recreate the breast. Autologous tissue and implant combined I had autologous, DIEP flap breast reconstruction. The lower tummy tissue is disconnected along with the underlying blood vessels (deep inferior epigastric perforators). It is then reconnected to the breast area to create soft Continue Reading →

Patient Advocacy at Plastic Surgery the Meeting

Posted on September 14, 2019 by Terri

Preparations begin for the fourth year in a row for me to attend PSTM, Plastic Surgery the Meeting in San Diego. This is the annual national conference of plastic surgeons both nationally and internationally to present the latest in plastic surgery techniques. It includes all aspects of plastic surgery, including aesthetic and reconstructive practices. My patient advocacy at Plastic Surgery the Meeting will focus on breast reconstruction. The Value of Social Media and Patient Advocacy at Plastic Surgery the Meeting The first year I attended I was the tenderfoot, the novice, wandering the expansive convention center in downtown Los Angeles not even knowing the layout, what sessions I could attend, or the flow of the conference. I opened my nonprofit, DIEPCFoundation.org the month before I attended my first PSTM in September of 2016. Many attendees did not know who I was. However, they recognized me because of my presence on Continue Reading →

Patience and Persistence: Pregnancy Post-DIEP – Part 1

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Terri

When I found out in September 2014 my cousin had been diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently found out in January 2015 that I am positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, I felt like time was not on my side. At the time my daughter was four years old and I had dreams of a second child. However, my husband and I didn’t feel it was the right time to try. Fast forward to early 2016, the time was finally right, and we began to try for baby number two. We tried for two years with no success. We even saw a fertility specialist and confirmed that we had all the right parts in all the right quantities to have another baby, we just needed more patience and persistence: pregnancy post-DIEP – part 1. By Spring 2018 I was wrapping up a Master’s degree and decided I just couldn’t wait Continue Reading →

Allergan Textured Implant Recall

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Terri

Why the Recall for Allergan Textured Implants? There has been recurrent media coverage over the past year about a rare subtype of lymphoma that has been diagnosed in a small but increasingly reported number of women who have textured implants. It is called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). From the FDA website: BIA-ALCL is not breast cancer – it is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer of the immune system). In most cases, BIA-ALCL is found in the scar tissue and fluid near the implant, but in some cases, it can spread throughout the body. At this time, the overall incidence of developing BIA-ALCL is considered to be low; however, a BIA-ALCL diagnosis is serious and can lead to death, especially if not diagnosed early or promptly treated. In most patients, BIA-ALCL is treated successfully with surgery to remove the implant and scar tissue surrounding the implant; however, Continue Reading →

Nipple Prosthesis after Mastectomy from Naturally Impressive, LLC

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Terri

Decisions and Waiting It’s SO hard to wait! -for pathology report or test results -to be done with chemo / radiation -to be done with breast reconstruction That moment when you’re finally done with treatment and breast reconstruction is so exciting! The next thought is to get nipples and you’ll be completely done with it all and able to feel “normal” again. Sounds so simple, but a good nipple solution can be frustratingly elusive. If you are planning to have a permanent option like nipple tattoos or surgical nipple reconstruction, you might get the news that you need to wait at least 3 to 6 months for tissue to settle. That can feel like forever to have to look in the mirror and see a “blank slate” or lopsided chest. We never knew how important our nipples were before we lost them, did we? But wait…you CAN have nipples much Continue Reading →

Breast Surgery Recovery Shirt I Wish I’d Had

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Terri

Here it is, the breast surgery recovery shirt I wish I’d had and you can order it right here: from the Healinincomfort site. Healincomfort will pay shipping. Now that’s a deal! One part of my job as a patient advocate and Founder and Director of DiepCFoundation.org is finding products making healing and recovery from breast cancer easier for patients. I have been through six different surgeries for breast cancer and breast reconstruction. My double mastectomy and DIEP flap breast reconstruction both required surgical drains. They were not my favorite part of recovery but necessary to drain out accumulated surgical fluid. The amount of time a patient has surgical drains can be a couple of weeks and sometimes a little over a month. It really depends on the individual healing mechanisms of each patient. This is why I am happy to write about the Healincomfort breast surgery recovery shirt I wish Continue Reading →

Why Should I Ask About Physical Therapy After Breast Surgery?

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Terri

I feel extremely fortunate my breast surgeon and plastic surgeon both recommended physical therapy for me after the breast surgeries they performed on me. My breast surgeon, Dr. Michele Ley, prescribed it for me about six weeks after she completed a double mastectomy due to my second occurrence of breast cancer. Dr. Chrysopoulo, my plastic surgeon, prescribed it for me after my DIEP flap breast reconstruction. I hear from many women who have not had the same physical therapy opportunity I did. So, I encourage them to ask their surgeons, “Why Should I Ask About Physical Therapy After Breast Surgery?” Physical Therapy after Mastectomy Surgery I began experiencing shoulder pain about three to four weeks after my double mastectomy. I went in for a follow up appointment to my breast surgeon around the same time. The shoulder pain occurred mainly when I was on my computer. This was during a Continue Reading →

A Breast Reconstruction Tattoo Completes a Patient Journey

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Terri

Connections made through the breast cancer community often become delightful friendships. So is the case with Sandra and me. We both had our DIEP flap breast reconstruction done in San Antonio at PRMA, Plastic Reconstructive Microsurgical Associates. Sandra is also a member of the Journey Facebook page. She volunteers her time when I make visits back to San Antonio for my Foundation work. I invited her to sit down and share her story. You can view the video in the blog of how a breast reconstruction tattoo completes a patient Journey. Sandra’s plastic surgeon informed her at her consult for her DIEP flap surgery that she would be losing her nipples. She felt comfortable with this decision for her best health and aesthetic outcomes knowing he would rebuild the nipples during the second phase of her breast reconstruction. The tattooing of the areola area could be done after healing from Continue Reading →