Category: Personal Stories

Cancer Survivor’s Day: Thoughts from Personal Journeys

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Days on the calendar reminding us of what we love, embrace, are actively involved in, and remind us that these commemorative days fill us with emotions, good and bad. There are holidays that have been on the calendar throughout history. Social media has caused new and interesting ones celebrating food, fun, and other trivial items uniting those who join in. Cancer Survivor’s Day, from my research, began in 1988. What does it mean to those who have survived? I decided to listen to those in my community and share thoughts on Cancer Survivor’s Day and some thoughts from personal Journeys. DiepCJourney: Thoughts on Cancer Survivor’s Day I began the closed Facebook group, DiepCJourney: Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy in May of 2015 after my successful DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Being a two-time breast cancer survivor impacts my life daily. I decided support, finding resources, providing education for others would be my Continue Reading →

Breast Cancer: Is it Ever a Side Note?

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A breast cancer diagnosis changes life forever. There is no instruction book on how to deal with a diagnosis, only the glut of information that one attempts to digest after being told they have breast cancer. It can feel like drinking from a fire hose sometimes. Can breast cancer ever be a side note? The diagnosis feels like being sucked into a vortex pulling the patient in along with their family, friends, and caregivers. The cavernous vacuum fills with emotions, appointments, unknown treatment, costs, lifetime side effects from surgery, and create unintended changes in most people’s lives. Unknowns lurk around dark corners. Some are agonizing to deal with. Other unknowns of a breast cancer diagnosis can be quite transforming in an enlightening way. Long lasting impact of Breast Cancer How do you set it aside, so it becomes a side note? Can a breast cancer diagnosis be a less important Continue Reading →

A Mother’s Day Tribute

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When I think of all the mothers who are involved with those having DIEP flap breast reconstruction or any kind of breast surgery, it warms my heart. There are those Moms who are no longer with us who are so deeply rooted to their daughters they have inspired them to make this tough choice when affected by breast cancer. They are worthy of a Mother’s Day tribute. Mothers Having Breast Reconstruction Your arms are used for hugging, wiping tears, working, cleaning, and caring. It may be tender moments, angry moments, gross and disgusting moments but you chose this title and roll with the punches. For Moms who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or having surgery to reduce their risk of getting breast cancer you are thrown into a world you never intended to be in. You wonder how you will even tell your children you may have to lose Continue Reading →

What Patients Can Teach You About Breast Cancer PTSD

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I wrote a blog on this topic regarding my own experience with PTSD after a breast cancer diagnosis. In fact, it was after my second breast cancer diagnosis. There are times when blogs are inspired in ways I did not see coming. After sharing it in my closed Facebook group my heart dropped reading the comments from others about their experience. I was amazed at what patients can teach you about breast cancer PTSD. I asked them how they deal with PTSD after breast cancer. They provided honest answers, some heart wrenching and some with resources to share within the group. Here is some what some patients shared about their own struggles. Sleep Deprivation and PTSD after Breast Cancer Sleep seemed to be illusive to some. They reported crying all day exhausting themselves into a nap. But then they did not sleep at night. This became a vicious cycle. One Continue Reading →

Sexual Health after Breast surgery and Breast Cancer Treatment

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The words, “You have breast cancer” can be very difficult to come to terms with for women and men. Added to this and what follows is the aftermath from treatment, surgeries, and loss of body parts. Our bodies are physiologically designed for sex with nerves to sexual organs in both male and female bodies. Sex is often associated with an emotional experience for many. For those affected by breast cancer living with scars, loss of body parts, debilitating changes to sexual function, self-image, fatigue, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, to name a few, changes in sexual health after breast surgery and breast cancer treatment are often left to the patient to grapple with. Our guest, Liz O’Riordan, is a breast surgeon, breast cancer survivor, and author who discusses and writes about the topic of sexual health. We invited her for an interview. Liz tells us her medical background and shares Continue Reading →

Episode 1: Breast Reconstruction Advocacy

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Have you ever been excited and nervous at the same time? I was on January 3,2021. It was an exciting day to publish the first episode of the DiepCJourney Podcast with guest, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. A few days in advance of the first published episode, I sent a message telling him I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Hitting the published button felt scary and exhilarating at the same time. We hope you’ll follow and listen to Episode 1: Breast Reconstruction Advocacy. After a second breast cancer diagnosis in 2014, Dr. C performed my DIEPflap breast reconstruction in December after a double mastectomy in April of the same year. He not only was the microsurgeon I chose, but he has also become a mentor to me, the voice in the corner, always cheering me on to “keep the momentum going, Terri”. The Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction: A Reflection of my Journey

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Significant birthdays deserve to be celebrated with meaningful moments. This was one of those birthdays for me, a side road but very much a part of my Journey. I knew it was time to do  something that had been on my radar even before I heard those four frightening words for the second time, “You have breast cancer”. This story is about my breast reconstruction, a reflection of my Journey. Late in 2013 I decided to register for a M.Ed. program in Teacher Leadership. I shared the news with my husband knowing it would jump start his clock. So, I looked at him and said, “When I finish, I’m going to get a shamrock tattoo on my ass.” Van Morrison is one of our favorite musical artists, an Irish storyteller and musician. Someone once asked him during an interview what his favorite kind of music is. He replied, “Anything that Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Education and the Circle of Giving

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Wednesday of this past week, October 21, 2002, was BRADay2020. BRADay is a daily event for me, providing education and resources to empower women and men with information to make an informed decision about options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. For the second year in a row, I was graciously invited by Microsoft to make a presentation about my personal Journey for their Microsoft Gives campaign but more importantly to educate . I left there with a full heart. This is what happened after my presentation on breast reconstruction education and the circle of giving. The presentation was conducted using the Microsoft Teams program. Since I have been using ZOOM to record videos for the Foundation, this was a new platform for me. Thomas set up a one on one meeting with me before the formal presentation to walk me through the ins and outs of Microsoft Teams. He made Continue Reading →

DiepCJourney: What’s in the Name?

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Breast reconstruction awareness day, #BRADay2020 is this Wednesday, October 21st. I have cordially been invited to make a presentation at Microsoft this week to educate the attendees on options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. I was asked by a dear friend, Thomas, a Microsoft employee, what the meaning was behind all of the DIEPC platform I began to build in January of 2015. So, I will begin by telling you about DiepCJourney: What’s in the name? After a second breast cancer diagnosis, I chose to have DIEP flap breast reconstruction after a double mastectomy in May of 2014. When I returned from my surgery, I began to write about it for more of a cathartic experience. I then discovered less than 25% of women and men are aware or told about their options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. I began to think about how I could educate others about options, Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Results, Should we Compare Photos?

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Breast reconstruction results, should we compare photos? This is a perplexing question in the world of plastic surgery for those affected by breast cancer. However, I see this question asked several times a week. I want to share my thoughts and why I feel it continues to be a topic I think breast cancer patients should give careful consideration to. When I lost my breast to breast cancer and began searching for a microsurgeon to perform my DIEP flap, I used their public website as a resource. It was full of information I needed to prepare for and understand the surgery I was about to have, DIEP flap, using my own tissue to rebuild my breasts. Seven months before my DIEP flap breast reconstruction, I had a skin sparing, nipple sparing mastectomy after a second breast cancer diagnosis. Those seven months were psychologically difficult for me. Twelve years previous to Continue Reading →