Oncoplastic Surgery after a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

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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 →

The Gifts We Know Mean so Much after Breast Reconstruction

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Each weekday morning, I wake up, fix coffee, and sit at the computer in my office. I open Facebook and read the comments on the DiepCjourney private page I started and admin. Questions are answered, members share resources, and it  feels like a warm place to start my morning. Recently, I posted this infographic asking members, “What would you add to this list”? These are the gifts we know mean so much after breast reconstruction. Insights for Gifts from the Heart after Breast Reconstruction Surgery These ideas are taken directly from the comments members of the Journey willingly shared. They showed extreme gratitude for those who gave their time and treasure to these ladies when they were recovering from surgery and undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Listened, listened, listened. Have space for all the feelings. The best gift I got from people was grace…grace for forgotten meetings, grace for bad Continue Reading →

Episode 2: Sexual Health Needs After Cancer

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Dr. Don Dizon is our guest on season 2, Episode 2: Sexual Health Needs After Cancer, of the DiepCJourney podcast. What are we discussing? Sexual health needs after cancer, a topic patients often have to bring up themselves to discuss with health care providers. Dr. Dizon tells us why this is the case and empowers patients with information to talk about this with specialists in cancer care regarding sexual health needs after cancer.  Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO is Director of the Pelvic Malignancies Program and Founder of the Oncology Sexual Health First Responders Program, Lifespan Cancer Institute. He is the director of medical oncology at Rhode Island Hospital. Be sure to check out the DiepCFoundation YouTube video on the same topic with Dr. Dizon. What is the Definition of Sexual Health Needs After Cancer? I begin by recognizing the topic of sexual health is not often spoken about in clinic. Continue Reading →

The Intersection of Research and Decision for Breast Reconstruction

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One day your life is humming along as usual. Work, children, family, friends, school, house cleaning, errands, vacation, cooking, on and on. Then out of nowhere you hear the news that feels like a gut punch. “You have breast cancer.” Perhaps you get genetic test results back and you find out you have a genetic mutation putting you at high risk of getting breast cancer. You are thrust into a new role finding out all you can about your diagnosis. Will I be facing a mastectomy or choose a mastectomy for my treatment? When will the intersection of research and decision for breast reconstruction occur? The Research Process Why am I writing about this? I agonized over this part of my breast cancer diagnosis when I was told my best choice for my long-term survival was a double mastectomy. It was my second diagnosis and now in both breasts vs. Continue Reading →

Virtual Attendance at World Urban Forum 2022

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This past week, beginning June 26 and running through June 30, 2022, world leaders of all ages and levels of leadership gathered in Katowice, Poland for #WUF11. It was thrilling to be in virtual attendance at the World Urban Forum 2022. What I learned, who I connected with, and what inspired me is summarized in this blog post. Why I Attended World Urban Forum Virtually Let me give you a bit of background on the purpose of the World Urban Forum. Here is the explanation than from the organization on their website. The WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid ubanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 and has been held around the world ever since. World Urban Forum At Continue Reading →

Function and Management of Breast Reconstruction Drains

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The DiepCJourney Facebook group has members from all over the world. The purpose of the group is to nurture an ongoing learning community with people affected by breast cancer and those who serve breast cancer patients. A request was made to make a video about surgical drains. It is not a favorite part of recover but certainly necessary. I sat down with Dr. Randall Feingold of NYBRA, New York Breast and Reconstruction and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to discuss the function and management of breast reconstruction drains. Why Drains Are Placed at the Surgical Sites I start off the conversation by sharing my own experience with drains for my double mastectomy and DIEP flap. The general consensus from patients is that drains are not something that anyone likes. I feel when patients understand why they are being used, they become a bit more tolerable, especially knowing they are a short-term part Continue Reading →

Episode 5: A Young Breast Cancer Survivor Advocating for Survivorship

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Hil Moss is our guest on Season 2, Episode 5 of the DiepCJourney Podcast. A young breast cancer survivor (diagnosed at 28), Hil is an active patient advocate, mentor, and writer in the cancer community, and dedicates her time to raising awareness around the importance of early detection and longitudinal survivorship care. She is also an MBA/MPH Candidate at Yale University, with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation in cancer care. She made the choice to leverage her own tissue to reconstruct her breasts having DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Hill shares her story from diagnosis, breast reconstruction, and through to her recovery. She shares her connection to the Breasties community and the advocacy work they share. Our call to action in Episode 5 with Hil, a young breast cancer survivor, is to begin doing breast self-exams at an early age. A breast self-exam for breast awareness helps you understand changes Continue Reading →

Episode 7: Lobular Breast Cancer

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In episode 7 of the DiepCJourney podcast we are discussing lobular breast cancer, also known as invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), with Leigh Pate. Lobular breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed type of invasive breast cancer. Often an understudied subtype of breast cancer I ask Leigh to join me on the podcast to help our followers understand more about it. Leigh founded the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance (LBCA) in 2017 and continues to work as a research advocate in the breast cancer and ovarian/fallopian tube cancer community. Leigh and I both have had lobular breast cancer. I have tucked my diagnosis, both of them, away in files and don’t pull them out to often. This is my way of coping with two diagnosis of breast cancer. Connecting with Leigh, precipitated my need to talk about this. Our goal is to explain lobular breast cancer to patients who have it Continue Reading →

Time to Consider Things While in Isolation

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I have been fortunate not to have been affected by the Corona virus… until this week. The statement itself poses something of a paradox, “not to have been affected by the Corona virus.”  Our global population has been affected by this since the pandemic began in ways unthinkable, unimaginable. I felt the physical affects this week after testing positive. I have had time to consider things while in isolation. Perspective and the Regrettable Necessities of Life I am on the mend, thankfully. It feels a bit odd to write about this publicly after keeping it on the down low all week. Especially given the other world tragedies we are dealing with and as the pandemic numbers increase… again. Perspective! Folks are pent up, tired, weary of dealing with the isolation. Having celebrated a few trips around the sun, birthdays, and feeling fortunate to recuperate in the care of my mom’s Continue Reading →

A Celebration of 10K Breast Reconstruction Flaps

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On May 21, 2022, I will be back in San Antonio, Texas for a celebration of 10K breast reconstruction flaps. This event is put together by the plastic surgery group who did my DIEP flap surgery in December of 2014. This day holds great significance for me. I am grateful to PRMA for their fantastic efforts and support putting this 10K race together to celebrate the 10K flap surgeries they have performed for those affected by breast cancer. Thank you to the sponsors who are generously supporting this race. Honoring All the Patients Who Have Chosen Flap Surgery The 10K breast reconstruction flaps race is being held in San Antonio. The real honor goes to ladies across the world who have chosen or are planning flap surgery after being affected by breast cancer and losing their breasts to the disease. Over the years since I started my nonprofit organization, DiepCFoundation, Continue Reading →