Tips for Getting Through the Holidays During Breast Cancer

Posted on by

I have written about this topic before but each year I seem to learn something new. I hear from other people about being diagnosed or having surgery toward the end of the year. This can throw an extra wrench into holiday plans since so many people celebrate a number of different holidays in December. I learn from them and share my tips for getting through the holidays during breast cancer. My Tips for Managing your Phone Time This Thanksgiving, I gave myself a gift. I called family and close friends in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and told them I was turning my phone off the entire day of Thanksgiving beginning at bedtime the night before. I did not turn it back on until the morning after. They had the ability to get a hold of me in an emergency. I wanted to make sure of that. It was Continue Reading →

Ways of Giving Back

Posted on by

There are many ways to give back to nonprofit organizations. Whether you are a patient, caregiver, surgeon, individual or corporate entity, or know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, at DiepCFoundation we want to share ways of giving back to the community we serve. Donate Your Time or Share a Testimonial There is nothing more rewarding than standing beside a volunteer at an event we are part of. These are patients who have been through this surgery and know first hand what to say to those who attend these events. We are grateful and will continue to reach out to our volunteers at these events. Writing a Testimonial and sharing it on our social media accounts is so appreciated. You can write it anonymously or we are happy to use your name and tag you on social media. Patients write testimonials telling us that viewing our DiepC Foundation Continue Reading →

Episode 19: Efficient DIEP Flaps

Posted on by

DIEP flaps are a type of breast reconstruction using a patient’s own tissue to reconstruct breasts after mastectomy for those affected by breast cancer. DIEP stands for deep inferior epigastric perforators. Epigastric refers to the abdominal area. The underlying tissue and perforators (blood vessels) are disconnected by the microsurgeon from the abdominal area and transplanted to the breast area to create soft, warm, tissue much like the breasts removed during mastectomy. We hope Episode 19: Efficient DIEP Flaps, has piqued your curiosity. Efficient DIEP Flaps Study To do an efficient DIEP flap requires years of training, skill, planning, and a team. My guest, Dr. Nicholas Haddock is one of the Breast Reconstruction Team at UT – Southwestern Department of Plastic Surgery in Dallas, TX. He works with Dr. Sumeet Teotia performing state of the art autologous breast reconstruction in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas. In our discussion we reference the PRS Global Continue Reading →

Acknowledging Those Who Give Their Time for Breast Reconstruction Patients

Posted on by

We come to a season of reflection, giving, and gratitude. I want to take a moment to honor all those who give selflessly of their time helping me in my pursuit of educating and supporting those who are affected by breast cancer. Acknowledging those who give their time for breast reconstruction patients is important to me. Those World is Full of Giving People Talk on the street says we have been through a lot the past couple of years. ‘Tis true. I don’t think it is necessary to rehash the events or effect from all that has occurred and shaped our world since early 2020. News headlines inundate us changing our mood, focus, and daily living. And yet, through all of this I continue to witness a world full of giving people. In my corner of the world helping breast reconstruction patients, those giving people seem to come from every Continue Reading →

Opportunities in Patient Advocacy

Posted on by

I feel so lucky to meet patient advocates who are passionate about their work in various breast cancer communities. Whether we have met in person at a conference, in training, or online I feel the positive impact of their work daily in my work as a patient advocate. I sat down with two of those advocates in this DiepCFoundation educational channel interview to discuss opportunities in patient advocacy. Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation I met Denise Barlow and Sandra Stewart Stanford in December of 2016 at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium after opening DiepCFoundation earlier that year. They both welcomed me with opened arms and guided me through the full week of sessions inviting me to join the patient advocate meetings each evening. It was through them I learned about patient advocacy training at Project LEAD. The Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation was started by Dale Eastman in late 1992-93-time frame. Continue Reading →

Breast Cancer and Breast Reconstruction Awareness Year Round

Posted on by

The month of October is coming to an end. I read many valuable posts across all social media accounts during breast cancer awareness month using the hashtag #BCAM. Some even called it breast cancer action month. I like that. One day out of this month was set aside for male breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, and breast reconstruction awareness day. That is fantastic to bring this awareness but, my tag line during October, “No Pink Today” simply means I feel we need have breast cancer and breast reconstruction awareness year round. Why Breast Cancer Awareness is Important Year-Round Statistics do not lie. This is taken from The American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures 2022. In the US in 2022, invasive breast cancer will be newly diagnosed in an estimated 287,850 women and 2,710 men, with an additional 51,400 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) diagnosed Continue Reading →

The Power of Education, Connections, and Giving

Posted on by

I moved back to Seattle in late 2018 to be near family. The following year, in October of 2019 I met with a team at Microsoft for the first time to present my story as a patient advocate, nonprofit leader, and two-time breast cancer survivor. Each October since then, I speak to teams at Microsoft providing information and education on the topic of breast reconstruction during their Microsoft Give Day. Each year I do these presentations I am inspired by the power of education, connections, and giving. How is the Power of Education Spreading? I often discuss this with my life-long friend, Thomas, who so generously sets these meetings up for me each year along with his Microsoft colleagues. We know, according to statistic from The National Breast Cancer Foundation, that one in eight women in the United States alone will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. The United States! Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Transitions and Changes

Posted on by

This week marks the beginning of the autumn equinox when the sun shines directly on the equator and the northern and southern hemisphere get the same amount of sun rays. I live in the Northern hemisphere. The days grow shorter and the nights longer because the Earth begins to tilt away from the sun. Seasons bring changes. There are comparisons to draw with the arrival of fall and with breast reconstruction transitions and changes. Breast Reconstruction Changes in our Bodies Many anticipate the changes fall brings. I look forward to the chill in the air and the warm clothing in my closet waiting to be worn and layered to keep me warm. Just as the leaves change color from green to brilliant hues of orange, golds, and browns, so too our bodies change during breast reconstruction. Leaves transition and let go of the tree, falling gracefully on the ground during Continue Reading →

Episode 9: Shared Decision-Making

Posted on by

When it comes to making decisions in your healthcare, my guest, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo and I present the first in a series on the topic of shared decision-making in the summary of Episode 9: Shared Decision-Making on the DiepCJourney podcast. Toliman Health was founded by Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, an internationally recognized expert in breast cancer reconstruction and shared decision-making. Dr. Chrysopoulo is the creator of Toliman’s flagship app, Breast Advocate® As co-leads of the WHIS Shared Decision-Making Expert Group our goal is to facilitate the adoption and practice of shared decision-making (SDM) throughout healthcare systems and across all medical disciplines. The “why” of the informative approach to decisions in healthcare is multi-faceted. It encompasses the patient’s preferences, values, support system, and expectations for outcomes. Back to Our Favorite Topic: Shared Decision-Making It is important in so many ways. Shared decision-making is not actually a new concept. It has been around since the 1980’s. Being one of Continue Reading →

Oncoplastic Surgery after a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Posted on by

Dr. Lashan Peiris, an oncoplastic and reconstructive breast and general surgeon in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, discusses oncoplastic surgery after a breast cancer diagnosis. He defines the term oncoplastic breast surgery, describes the type of conversation he has with his patients, and who might be a candidate for this type of surgery after a breast cancer diagnosis. Shared Decision-Making in Oncoplastic Surgery When a person is diagnosed with breast cancer the healthcare team should work together to coordinate patient care to determine the best long-term survival and quality of life choices in treatment and surgery. Dr. Peiris makes a profound statement, “Gone are the days where we as breast surgeons walk into a room, tell a lady she’s got breast cancer, and walk out five minutes later.” Dr. Peiris continues his discussion by describing the shared decision-making process in breast cancer and breast surgery care. All aspects of the patient’s life Continue Reading →