A Patient Advocacy Story

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Breast Reconstruction Awarenrss Day 2015, a patient advocacy story, begins with an inspirational moment; a moment that was a true catalyst to a new found purpose in my life. Where was the inspiration? Why would a patient become an advocate and subsequently an affiliate to promote a nationwide campaign for breast reconstruction awareness following a cancer diagnosis and mastectomy? Easy answer! The plastic surgeon I chose to do my DIEP flap surgery and the patient liaison that was my first point of contact at their group WAS my starting point. When something feels right, I move on it. It was my moment of inspiration. I was asked to share my reconstruction surgery experience with other women who were considering the same type of surgery. I wanted to pay it forward and let other women know about this group, their skill, success rate, credentials, compassion and the support of all the Continue Reading →

Coutee fighting to help others after breast cancer – Tucson Local Media: News

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Surgical Compression Garments: DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction, Revision Phase

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Surgical compression garments for revision phase of Diep Flap breast reconstruction are an important part of healing.  I can share with you what compression garments I was required to wear after phase two, the revision  surgery of my DIEP flap breast reconstruction. However, know that each of you will experience your own individual recovery and your surgeon will tell you which garments to wear based on where the fat was extracted and liposuction was done. There are similarities in the revision surgery for implants and autologous flap fat grafting in that fat is injected into areas of the breast to achieve optimal aesthetic outcomes and to make the breasts look as natural as possible. Again, it will be an individual procedure based on your body composition and where the fill will come from and where it will be re-injected to achieve symmetry and contouring.  Surgeons will discuss with you their Continue Reading →

Guest Blog ~ World Health Innovation Summit & Gareth Presch

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Guest Blog ~ World Health Innovation Summit & Gareth Presch I am pleased to share a guest blog from the World Health Innovation Summit and Mr. Gareth Presch .  Through the power and connection of Social Media across the globe I am pleased to present the work that Gareth is doing.  Through shared vision and outreach we are like-minded in our enthusiasm to reach communities to improve the health care experience.  Thank you Gareth for your work and for sharing this blog! Health touches us all, every sector, and we support sharing knowledge between those sectors to improve health and social care around the world – Gareth Presch It started with a tweet! – Gareth Presch Posted on October 11, 2015 by World Health Innovation Summit “Together, We Inspire” World Health Innovation Summit CIC – Community Led “Patients, Clinicians, Managers, Voluntary Sector, Education and Businesses” Supporting the sharing of knowledge to Continue Reading →

#IAmTheFaceOfBreastReconstruction

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#IAmTheFaceOfBreastReconstruction #IAmTheFaceOfBreastReconstruction.  October 21, 2015 is Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day 2015 in the United States. I have been an advocate and educator for all choices of Breast Reconstruction for just over a year since being diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in April of 2014. I knew I was going to be faced with a double mastectomy, but, I was informed, I was educated the day I was told I had to have a mastectomy. I was told about my options for breast reconstruction by my breast surgeon. I was fortunate. This year I learned that many women are not given that information and are not as fortunate. They are not given a referral to a plastic surgeon at the time of diagnosis. But, I also found a community of women who work tirelessly to educate and inform others about what they have gone through, what choices they Continue Reading →

#NoBraDay Done the Right Way!

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#NoBraDay Done the Right Way! Today is National #NoBraDay and should be done the Right way by choosing a reason to actually project breast cancer awareness in a constructive, valuable way. Take PRMA, for example. This is a group of class act, well-trained, compassionate surgeons whose main passion is rebuilding women’s lives after breast cancer with reconstructive plastic surgery. Today, the patient liaison at their practice decided to post this info graphic using the hash tag #NoBraDay. This is valuable. This is constructive. Awareness, education and not flaunting the day in a tasteless, disrespectful way like so many have done on Social Media. Thank you PRMA for stepping up to the plate and respecting Breast Cancer Awareness Month and #NationalNoBraDay with dignity and purpose!     And Then There is This….. National No Bra day has a Face Book page and what I find most offensive about their page is Continue Reading →

#FlashbackFriday

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#FlashbackFriday and A Chance Encounter I wanted to share a chance encounter that I had yesterday and post it for #FlashbackFriday. While I was busy doing what I’ve been calling my “boots on the ground” work to promote Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day 2015, I had a fortuitous circumstance, an encounter of compassion. Tweeting in the Stairwell My Twitter account was full of activity yesterday thanks to some overwhelming support from Social Media friends and supporters. I was at the imaging center to hand out flyers for my Breast Reconstruction Awareness event. It seemed like a logical place to drop off promotional material for women getting mammograms and screenings. I took the stairwell trying to be inconspicuous and out of the way of the patients. OK, so I was also admittedly latching on to the imaging center’s WI-Fi so I could check the craziness of my Tweets coming in. It was Continue Reading →

Measuring the Breast for Breast Reconstruction

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The paper, Population Analysis of the Perfect Breast: A Morphometric Analysis, was a study done to determine current trends in what is considered the aesthetically pleasing breast shape in measuring the breast for breast reconstruction using a measurement of form (morphometric). It was a comprehensive survey study with cross-cultural opinions from men, women and plastic surgeons regarding ideal breast proportions. The consensus was a 45:55 ratio meaning; 45 percent of breast fullness lies above the nipple line and 55 percent below the nipple line. Simply stated, this measurement tool was determined by the study to be the guide in achieving the “perfect” breast shape for use by plastic surgeons.  History has shown that this perception of the perfect breast shape dates back to the sculpture of Venus de Milo discovered on the island of Melos in 1820. A Complex & Meticulous Procedure I was far from having the “perfect breast” Continue Reading →

A Letter to My DIEP Flap Sisters

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A Letter to My DIEP Flap Sisters I hear from a number of DIEP flap sisters when they are having upcoming surgery for phase one or two of breast reconstruction. Some currently have cancer. Others have gone through their cancer surgery and treatments and are at the point they can now physically proceed with DIEP flap surgery. There are those of you who are having prophylactic mastectomies due to a gene mutation and still others are ready to complete phase two and finalize their journey. There is excitement and exuberance in their comments. I am so excited I have a date for my surgery! My insurance has been accepted for my DIEP flap! My surgery is just two weeks away! I will be able to look back soon on this entire process and be able to move on! I know how you feel. I sense your anticipation in removal of Continue Reading →

October & Pink

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October is the month that you can find pink in a vast array of merchandise in every imaginable form. You find it in retail stores, on websites, the shoes of NFL football players, pink M & M’s, pink, pink and more pink. Some of the very products that slap the pink ribbon on their merchandise contain chemicals known to increase the risk and occurrence of breast cancer.  A bit unsettling, right? October vocabulary Pinktober, Pinkaholic, Pink outs, Think Pink. I think breast cancer patients who have had it with the whole pink thing might even come up with a new slogan: Pink Stinks! Don’t Forget the Guys and Be True to Blue! We all read stories about what having breast cancer does to the men and women who are diagnosed. Yes, men! Don’t forget to wear blue for the guys! You can read this blog summary of a podcast I Continue Reading →