breast cancer Archives

Breast Cancer: When All is not Merry and Bright

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Terri

I do believe remaining positive is an integral part of breast cancer survivor-ship and healing. I hear others say it frequently. However, there are times when all that encompasses this disease as a patient advocate sucks you under. Perhaps it is the short days as the Winter Solstice arrives. The long winter nights glow with holiday lights. At the same time, the events of this month have made me realize with breast cancer, not all is merry and bright. Metastatic Breast Cancer I have spoken with too many friends this month who are stage four metastatic. Some attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium despite their exhaustion from treatments. They went to make a difference as patient advocates. Even though I didn’t attend this year, it is a grueling conference when you are feeling good. I can only imagine they must have collapsed into their hotel beds at the end Continue Reading →

Nutrition and Diet after DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Terri

Are you more aware of your nutrition and diet after DIEP flap breast reconstruction? I certainly am and I hear the same from many women. When breast cancer is the driving reason behind having this intricate surgery, it is little wonder nutrition and diet become a focus for so many. At the same time, I hear a lot of inquiry about what is the best way to eat a healthy nutritious diet after breast reconstruction. The one factor that changes this is the “tightening down” of the tummy during this surgery. With the tummy tissue being used to reconstruct the breast, the tummy area is pulled down similar to a tummy tuck. Many women talk about the feeling of having less room, filling up quicker, and feeling like they can’t eat as much after DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Where do your Food Values about Nutrition and Diet come from? The Continue Reading →

DiepC Journey Facebook Group Hit 4,000 Members!

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Terri

DiepC Journey Facebook Group Hit 4,000 Members! Facebook members on DiepC Journey, Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy, can be very active in the evenings. This happens when members have some alone time after dinner, work, and putting the children to bed. I hopped on last night. I noticed a lot of activity and questions being asked. Then something incredible happened. I looked at the number of members as I approved some new requests to join. I was a bit shocked to find out the Journey hit 4,000 members. DiepC Journey Facebook Group and 4,000 Members Around the Globe I am in awe of this group because it is specific to breast reconstruction after mastectomy. That is our common bond. On World Kindness Day I asked members to check in to tell each other where they were from. This group continues to practice kindness toward each other in unexpected ways. They checked Continue Reading →

Prosthetic Nipples After Non-Nipple Sparing Mastectomy: an Option for All

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Terri

A Guest Blog By Naturally Impressive, LLC Some women are able to successfully do nipple sparing mastectomy and some are not, for a variety of reasons. Many of us are surprised to find out how emotional it is to look in the mirror and see a missing nipple (or two!). It’s almost like our reflection is shouting back at us “You’ve had cancer” which can hinder our growth into a more positive self-image. Most women are aware of the options of surgical nipple reconstruction or nipple-areola tattoos, but an option that is less known and often overlooked is nipple prosthetics as a short or long term option. For any of these scenarios, consider Naturally Impressive nipple prosthetics as an elegant way to “have nipples” that look very real and stay on securely for weeks. You want nipples, but aren’t sure which choice yet. You plan to have surgical nipple Continue Reading →

DiepCFoundation attends the GRYT Virtual Cancer Conference

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Terri

I have attended a number of conferences as a patient advocate since opening DiepCFoundation in 2016. Traveling takes time and financial resources. I am happy to share with you a virtual conference you can attend from the comfort of your home. Come with me as DiepCFoundation attends The GRYT Virtual Cancer Conference held Saturday, October 5th, 2019. How to Participate in the GRYT Virtual Cancer Conference The conference will be “open” from 8am-9pm Eastern Standard Time. During this time, you can listen to a variety of speakers and attend breakout sessions from a number of organizations across the cancer community. You can also visit the Exhibit Hall to interact one on one with the hosts of the virtual booths. They will be available during various times of the day to answer questions from participants. Ongoing Resources after the GRYT Virtual Cancer Conference There is an added advantage and ongoing resources Continue Reading →

Trust in your Breast Reconstruction Surgeon

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Terri

How do you know when you have complete trust in your breast reconstruction surgeon? I can share my experience, but I am not you. My breast cancer experience was unique to my circumstances. It was my second occurrence of breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy and for seven long months lived without my breasts. Then I had what is known as delayed DIEP flap breast reconstruction. I honestly felt like a mangled mess the day I first saw my plastic reconstructive surgeon for my initial consult. I had skin sparing, nipple sparing mastectomy. Looking down at the folds of skin laying on my now breast-less chest wall always made me towel off quickly after each shower to put something over the area left marred by breast cancer. Each side of my chest looked different since I had radiation twelve years previous on my left side only. Scarring, tightness, and Continue Reading →

Finding Trusted Breast Reconstruction Resources

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Terri

You are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, going through treatment, or just found out you carry a gene mutation and are at high risk of developing breast cancer. It seems important to begin to explore all your options for breast reconstruction. Your mission, finding trusted breast reconstruction resources. The thought of any surgery is scary to you. You have the information your health care team gave you. Now you want to talk with someone who really gets it but more importantly someone you can trust. Family and friends are there to support you but can sometimes feel smothering. They try their best to help and console you. Sometimes you need time away, to think, to formulate questions, to find firsthand experience about the choices you know you are facing. Can You Find Trusted Breast Reconstruction Resources in Facebook Groups? We live in the age of social media, so you Continue Reading →

Breast Surgery Recovery Shirt I Wish I’d Had

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Terri

Here it is, the breast surgery recovery shirt I wish I’d had and you can order it right here: from the Healinincomfort site. Healincomfort will pay shipping. Now that’s a deal! One part of my job as a patient advocate and Founder and Director of DiepCFoundation.org is finding products making healing and recovery from breast cancer easier for patients. I have been through six different surgeries for breast cancer and breast reconstruction. My double mastectomy and DIEP flap breast reconstruction both required surgical drains. They were not my favorite part of recovery but necessary to drain out accumulated surgical fluid. The amount of time a patient has surgical drains can be a couple of weeks and sometimes a little over a month. It really depends on the individual healing mechanisms of each patient. This is why I am happy to write about the Healincomfort breast surgery recovery shirt I wish Continue Reading →

Father’s Day: The Empty Rocking Chair

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Terri

My family and I sat on a shaded screened porch for many family occasions, both small and large. A sign, hand painted by Dad, hangs on the patio and reads, “Sit Long, Talk Much, Laugh Often”. On the porch are several comfortable outdoor wicker chairs. One chair, the wicker rocking chair, is where Dad always sat. He held his great grandchildren while he sat in the rocker. Sipping coffee and talking about the morning news was another favorite activity in his chair for Dad when I would go home for visits. In the evening, he sat with his Jack Daniels sipping it slowly imparting the wisdom of a man who lived just a few days short of 89 years. This year on Father’s Day, there is an empty rocking chair. I feel a sense of loneliness. My Dad died of cancer last year. The last time I sat on the Continue Reading →