Tag: breast cancer

Telemedicine: Patient Care During COVID-19

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I recently interviewed a friend and patient advocate, Kirstin Litz, to find out how she successfully set up her first telemedicine appointment in the time of COVID-19. This was her oncology appointment for follow up breast cancer care. I also asked others for tips on how best to conduct telemedicine and optimize patient care in the time of COVID-19. Landline Vs. Mobile Phones for Messages Most of us use mobile phones for the bulk of our everyday communication with friends and businesses. However, home phones and landlines are sometimes a preferred number to reference when filling out contact forms for medical offices to use as an answering system. This was the case for Kirstin. She knew when her oncologist told her the appointment would be a video call, the landline number was not going to work. In addition to the message left on her landline, she received emails via the Continue Reading →

What are the Surgical Stages of Breast Reconstruction?

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A question frequently asked in the breast reconstruction community for those planning any type of breast reconstruction is, what are the surgical stages of breast reconstruction? I reached out to the experts to do a video. Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo of PRMA answers the question. I summarize the conversation with Dr. C in this blog. You can watch the entirety of the conversation in the at the end. Dr. C begins with a very important statement, “Breast reconstruction should really be considered a process rather than as one procedure. For most people it is going to take more than one surgery to get the best results.” Breast Reconstruction: Stage 1 It is preferable to have both the mastectomy and reconstruction done at the same time, known as immediate reconstruction. This often yields better results because there is less scarring and looks more natural. Sometimes, because of the diagnosis, stage of the Continue Reading →

Please Do not Tell Me Not to Worry

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You arrive for your yearly mammogram, CT scan, ultrasound, or blood work. It could be any number of medical tests to determine if you have breast cancer, your breast cancer has metastasized, you are called back to have further testing, the list goes on. The appointment can elicit worry days before when you view it on your calendar knowing it is coming up. Then you wait for results. Or you wait a few more days for a recall on a mammogram when they “find something suspicious” that was not there a year ago. What do you say to someone who shares this news with you? Did you tell them not to worry? They are probably thinking, “please don’t tell me not to worry”. Mammograms can Cause Worry There are those who are having their first mammogram ever. Whether you are 24, 40 or 84 is really does not matter. The Continue Reading →

How Do You Maintain Your Health After Breast Cancer?

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Exercise has been part of my routine throughout my life. I am a middle child of three daughters. Dad always called me the tomboy in the family. I was the one he would throw the football to across the yard when I was growing up. He taught me how to throw a pretty good spiral. My family attended my high school track meets. When I was on a collegiate rowing team, they cheered on the sidelines of the river when I had a regatta in our hometown. But as an adult, I have been diagnosed with breast cancer twice. It stopped me in my tracks during various surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. Now a healthy Nanna with all of that behind me, it is even more important for me to exercise and maintain my health after breast cancer. My Formula for Maintaining Health after Breast Cancer There are so many Continue Reading →

The Woman Behind the Mask: Coronavirus

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This is the third week I am writing my weekly blog on the topic of the coronavirus. The rapidly evolving events of this global pandemic have caused staggering changes in statistics. We seem to grapple daily with how to deal with the spread of the virus. Wearing a face mask was the most visible symbol coming out of Wuhan, China where the coronavirus began in late December. At the beginning of March here in America, the consensus was not to wear a mask in public. Now in the first days of April, a month later, we are seeing a flood of masks being worn in America. A movement has begun to make homemade masks. This blog is dedicated to a friend, the woman behind the mask, and why she began making them during the coronavirus. Why We Transitioned from No Mask to Wearing Masks During the Coronovirus The growth of Continue Reading →

DiepCJourney Celebrating Five Years in Unprecedented Times

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Five years ago, on March 17, 2015, I published my first blog for DiepCJourney.com. I felt excited and anxious. Today, on March 17, 2020, those feelings, excitement and being anxious manifest themselves in a completely different way. We are at the tip of the iceberg in the United States as we grapple with how to deal with a global pandemic, the worldwide Coronavirus outbreak. This blog will be marked as a time capsule. I had no idea DiepCJourney would be celebrating five years in unprecedented times. I had an idea what I might write in this blog as 2020 rolled around knowing it was the fifth anniversary year. But now things have changed. I want to share my concerns and gratitude to all of the amazing readers over the past five years. My Concerns for Readers of DiepCJourney at this Unprecedented Time The blog continues to grow and evolve. What Continue Reading →

Breast Advocate App: An Interview with Founder Minas Chrysopoulo, MD

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We are fortunate to live in a time when apps on mobile devices become tools to help us with our treatment options for a number of health-related issues. The focus of my blog and mission of my nonprofit Foundation is to empower women and men with information to make an informed decision about options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. I have the distinct pleasure to present the reader with a decision tool, the Breast Advocate App and an interview with Founder, Minas Chrysopoulo, MD, FACS. I began my work as a patient advocate in early 2015 shortly after having my successful DIEP flap breast reconstruction. At the time of my second diagnosis in April of 2014, I was given all my options for breast reconstruction by my breast surgeon. I am grateful to her. I was handed a packet of brochures from implant manufacturers, local support groups, photos and explanation Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Photo Sharing: Should We?

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This is a multifaceted question with a range of answers. I face this question a lot. Those who are considering breast reconstruction want to know what their post-surgery body and breasts will look like. I know I did. There are a variety of situations those affected by breast cancer are portrayed in media and photography. I want to share my personal thoughts, tell you a touching story, and consider the answer to the title of this blog, “Breast Reconstruction Photo Sharing: Should We?” Public Breast Reconstruction Photo Sharing The media and those in business have an end result, to reach a wide audience and to draw them in. This is often done through artistic and visual enticement. There is a certain curiosity and arousal that is the end goal to draw people into an article, event, photo, or social media post. I understand the business aspect of this, but I Continue Reading →

Microsurgery in Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy

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I had the opportunity to attend the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons meeting recently. As a patient advocate attending, I was particularly focused on microsurgery in breast reconstruction after mastectomy. It gave me the chance to have in depth conversations with plastic surgeons who dedicate intense hours of training to become microsurgeons.  The conference attendees included medical students interested in this specialty, plastic surgeons who are currently in fellowship training for microsurgery, and those seasoned veterans sharing the latest techniques and methods of surgical skills to achieve optimal outcomes for patients. The ASRM conference took place at a hotel with all of the sessions easily accessible. This conference felt comfortable, informal, and intimate to me. These microsurgeons reflected the feeling, this group is like a small tribe who understand the rigors of microsurgical training and how it can positively change the lives of patients. Why Should you Find a Microsurgeon Continue Reading →

How to Join the BC3 Twitter Talk in Five Easy Steps

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BC3C is the Breast Cancer Coordinated Care Interdisciplinary Conference being held in Washington, D.C. February 27-29, 2020. This conference includes a wide range of medical specialists who care for breast cancer patients. As an introduction to what the conference will be about, you can join us on January 24, from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET to find out more. This blog will tell you how to join the BC3 Twitter Talk in five easy steps. Step One of Participating in the BC3 Twitter Talk You will need to have a Twitter account. It’s very easy to open one if you do not have one now. Open Twitter from your computer, phone or tablet. You will then need to type in your phone number or email address in the first text box. After that, set up the password you want to use. Participating in Twitter Talk is a bit easier Continue Reading →