Patients become unintended experts on a topic they likely had no intention of being an authority on. When you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer one of the biggest challenges is understanding the medical information you have to digest and make sense of for your own future health. How will these decisions affect your body, lifestyle, and long-term survival? If you are facing loss of breast due to a mastectomy, things can become a step more complex when digesting and understanding your options. Luckily, we live in an era where we have access to digital tools to assist with these decision processes. Digital health can improve your breast reconstruction decision.
Defining Digital Health
First let’s define what digital health is. It encompasses many platforms. Digital health can but is not limited to entities such as virtual consultations via your computer or phone and apps specific to a topic you need more information about. It can also include electronic medical records, wearable devices, and personalized care. In this blog post, I will focus on the first two mentioned, virtual consultations and available apps to use in your decision process for breast reconstruction.
The Silver Lining for Breast Reconstruction Decisions
Since March of 2020, the world has learned to adapt during the global pandemic for their healthcare needs. Many of us increased our use of online digital tools like ZOOM, SKYPE, or other meeting apps to connect with our healthcare team. The sliver lining of the pandemic is the use of these tools. Many patients who may have had in person consults with their medical team prior to the pandemic are now frequently using telemedicine. To use telemedicine requires the user to understand digital health. The benefits are now far reaching and increasing access to care.
Now that we are more familiar with the concept of virtual consultations patients have an opportunity to have initial consults, even second and third opinions when researching surgeons to perform their breast reconstruction. This may include implant-based reconstruction, autologous tissue reconstruction, or a combination of the two. It can also be a consult for rebuilding the chest wall after mastectomy to achieve aesthetic flat closure. You can sit in the privacy of your chosen space to discuss the risks, benefits, and aesthetic goals and outcomes of your breast reconstruction.
This digital health tool increases access to health care in breast reconstruction allowing you to talk to plastic surgeons across the country when patients may not have had access to one in their area. It is important to remember not all patients find it easy to travel. However, at DiepCFoundation.org, the nonprofit I set up to support and educate those considering breast reconstruction, we have a community that shares information about planning, budgeting, and making travel seem more unattainable.
Tools in the Palm of your Hand for Breast Reconstruction
Our mobile devices, especially phones, become the window to the world in our ability to find and communicate with others. This also holds true for access to digital health care. There are great apps patients can now utilize to assist with their decision process through breast cancer, breast surgery, and breast reconstruction. Check them out in the app store and type in “breast cancer” and “breast reconstruction” to search for one that is appealing to you.
One of my favorite apps and decision aids for breast reconstruction is the Breast Advocate app. As the Founder of DiepCFoundation.org, I have been a Patient Advocacy Partner with Breast Advocate since its inception and for good reason. It was developed by the plastic surgeon who performed my breast reconstruction, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. Sharing education to assists others in the decision process of breast reconstruction requires a collaborative effort for those of us who are strong proponents of the shared decision-making model in health care. When you can combine this with digital health and an app, it becomes a win/win for the patient and the clinician. Why? Here are some of the important features of this digital health care tool and why you should look for similar functions in other apps:
- It is FREE! And what is not to like about that?
- Personalized Care via the “Wizard” on the app where you can customize your diagnosis and preferences for treatment and surgery.
- Evidence-based information contained in the “Knowledge Center” of the app including treatment options, a library, and resources. When patients are armed with facts, it gives them a better sense of control and aids in the decision process.
- Community and a place where you can speak with others who are considering or have been through breast reconstruction giving you a sense you are not alone.
Utilize Digital Health Resources for Breast Reconstruction
Whether you are just beginning your Journey, have been newly diagnosed or searching for what treatment options will be best for you, ask your healthcare team how you can utilize various digital health platforms available to optimize your experience and overall outcomes. Please let me know if I can help. You can use the contact tab on the blog if you have questions.