Tag: Breast Reconstruction

National Dance Day

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The last Saturday in July is observed as National Dance Day .  It has been set aside as the day honoring the benefits of dance to everyone.

Dancing is not only the performance of art but also the way to show people personalities as well as to help people raise their mood and improve their health.

Dancing is an integral part of my life. When I was growing up my parents would frequently put their favorite vinyl records on the turn table and along with my two sisters we would dance to favorite show tunes and legendary crooners like Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and others.

The Wedding Dances

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When our oldest son was married, I was polite and enjoyed mingling and meeting all the guests at the wedding until…. The music started. Then I never left the dance floor and danced with anyone who was next to me. It wasn’t much different at the weddings for my godson and nieces.  In fact, the song I chose in the YouTube video below is the song that my niece and I have long dubbed, “our song”, because when it comes on, I look at her and together we sing, “I love you, I love you, I love you!”  She played it at her wedding and the two of us went out to the dance floor and rocked out together.

Carpe Diem and the Power of Music

Fun-day Friday Dance

It only seemed appropriate then to celebrate the final phase of my breast reconstruction with a dance. Here is what took place that Fun-day Friday just minutes before my breast reconstruction surgery.  I don’t know who is lucky enough to have a micro-surgeon with such compassion and such a great sense of humor to embrace and honor my request to do this.  It was not an easy task and I’m not suggesting anyone do the same thing.  There is an element of safety that we had to work around.  I truly thought I’d be up dancing with the team but due to safety concerns, understandably, I had to remain on the surgical bed.  Just watch my feet as I can hardly stand it that I’m not on the floor with them doing the “sprinkler” or shaking my booty with them.  Thanks to the great surgical team, too, for joining in.  You are all the best!  I do think it elevated all of our moods that morning and certainly brought out each individual personality.  Enjoy, and if the music so moves you…. Get up and dance!

Happy National Dance Day!

Breast Reconstruction Fears After Mastectomy

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Breast reconstruction fears after a mastectomy and not knowing all of the steps involved prevent many women from making the decision to move forward with reconstruction.  My breast reconstruction journey began when I had my annual mammogram on April 2, 2014.  My radiologist informed me the mass she found in my right breast was highly suspicious of cancer.  I had to return to her office the next day to confirm this with a core needle biopsy (CNB). The results were ready five days later. My radiologist asked me the day she took the CNB if I knew of any breast surgeons to review results of the biopsy with me. I had been to see one about five years previously to have a benign cyst removed. I was very impressed with the surgeon and asked to schedule the results of my CNB to confirm whether I had cancer or not with Continue Reading →

Healing Scars

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Healing Scars Healing scars after any surgery is a frequently discussed topic for those of us who have been through it.  The word scar derives from the Greek eskhara, scab. In the present day English language it can be both a noun and a verb. Noun – a mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely and fibrous connective tissue has developed. Verb – a lasting effect of grief, fear, or other emotion left on a person’s character by a traumatic experience Scar – Noun The first definition, a noun, describes fibrous, connective tissue developing. When you think about it in those terms it implies building and getting stronger, fibrous/connective. I still have very young scars from the three surgeries that I have had this past year. The mastectomy scars were the first of those three surgeries. The scars Continue Reading →

Traveling for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

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My Journey traveling over 800 miles for DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery took planning a preparation. Many people, including healthcare providers have asked me, “Why did you travel  to San Antonio, TX for your DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery and what is it like to travel? To answer the first question, I feel I found the best micro-surgeon in the country to perform my DIEP flap procedure.  This is a highly complex surgery successfully performed by few surgeons across the United States.  Many women have to travel to have this surgery performed because of the few number of skilled plastic surgeons who specialize in autologous, microsurgery, breast reconstruction. I stand firm in my conviction, the group at PRMA in San Antonio are eight of the finest micro-surgeons in the United States. I want other women to know where the great surgeons are across the country.  The answer to the second question Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Phase 2 ~ Remembering Dates

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Today I will be seeing my plastic surgeon for the pre-op appointment for phase 2 of my breast reconstruction. People remember and celebrate dates for various reasons. I don’t know how this happened but I have had a strange collision of dates today. Cancer patients tend to remember significant dates and anniversaries in their minds for various reasons. It might be the day of diagnosis. Perhaps it was the final day of treatment. Today for me, it’s a combination of a couple of significant events and a day to celebrate as well. Memories Evoked I will admit that the final day of radiation and all treatments, October 15, 2002, sans five years of Tamoxifen, from my first diagnosis was very significant to me. I was raised a Catholic and October 15 was the feast day of my patron saint, St. Teresa. That was significant to me that those two dates Continue Reading →

Seeking a Second Opinion

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Inspired to Write About Seeking a Second Opinion I recently joined a closed Face book page about blogging. One of the questions posed in the discussion was what so inspires you to blog/write. The main focus and inspiration for me will always be to inform others about breast reconstruction. But, leading up to breast reconstruction was twice being diagnosed with breast cancer so one greatly influences the other. The inspiration for this blog came from a question posed on a completely different Face book page. The questions were regarding getting a second opinion and what your thoughts were on it. I felt inspired to share my thoughts. Life’s Book on a Cancer Diagnosis My experience with second opinions is a lesson to be taken out my life’s book on a cancer diagnosis and all that comes with it. The first time I was diagnosed with cancer was twelve years ago Continue Reading →

Choosing Your Breast Reconstruction Surgeon ~

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A Fortunate Collaboration This is the first and most important step in your breast reconstruction process. So many have asked me, “Where did you find your doctor and why did you travel over 800 miles to San Antonio to have reconstruction?” This is a difficult post for me to write. Although I’d like everyone to have the same experience I did with my amazingly skilled and compassionate microsurgeon, I know there are other skilled surgeons across the U.S. as well as the world who are geographically closer to those who choose breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Not all roads lead to San Antonio for everyone as they did for me but the purpose of this post is to guide you in a process to find the finest board certified plastic surgeon to perform your breast reconstruction. This is a huge decision but one I look back on with ZERO regrets. Continue Reading →