Tag: DIEP flap

The Difference Between APEX and DIEP Flap Reconstruction

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Dr. Oscar Ochoa discusses the difference between APEX and DIEP flap reconstruction. I am asked this question on the DiepCJourney Facebook page often enough and knew it was time to reach out to an expert. Dr. Ochoa is with PRMA in San Antonio, Texas. They celebrate thirty years of service to the breast cancer community this year. Congratulations to the growing team of surgeons providing breast reconstruction worldwide for patients. Learning About the Philosophy of Plastic Surgery in Breast Reconstruction Dr. Ochoa tells us in the video, Breast reconstruction is a topic that no one really learns about until they are actually dealing with it. ~ Dr. Oscar Ochoa Before we begin the slide presentation discussing the nuances of the APEX vs. the DIEP flap, Dr. Ochoa begins our discussion talking about the overall philosophy of plastic surgery. He tells us this philosophy is based on replacing like with like. Continue Reading →

A Breast Cancer Patient Intent on Finding Access to Care

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Access to medical care for those affected by breast cancer is crucial, and often life transformative. This is a personal story of a breast cancer patient intent on finding access to care. She is a woman of strength and stopped at nothing to find the best care available for her during her personal journey from diagnosis to recovery from DIEP flap breast reconstructive surgery. I am pleased to offer this summary of the DiepCJourney podcast. Dana’s Diagnosis and Breast Cancer Treatment Dana Brown, PhD., is a 54-year-old wife, mother, and educator. She has been married to her best friend and soulmate for 35 years and they have an amazing son who is twenty-six. Recently, after 30 years in education, after much consideration with her husband, Dana decided to retire. This decision was made based on the reason she is sharing her story with you on the podcast about how she Continue Reading →

The Value of the Co-Surgeon Model in Breast Reconstruction

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This episode of the DiepCJourney podcast covers two very important topics. It includes the value of the co-surgeon model in microvascular breast reconstruction. We will also tackle a subject matter I am not an expert on but have a great deal of experience in. I will admit it is an uncomfortable topic for me because I am not an expert. The topic is insurance coverage in breast reconstruction. I want to say that I have NOT come to understand the complexities of insurance but have gained a great deal of empathy for those in the breast cancer community who deal with these complexities, and that includes patients and surgeons. My guest, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, discusses the value of the co-surgeon model in breast reconstruction and insurance coverage concerns. Why this Topic and Why Now? I have chosen this topic not to appear to be controversial. It is a topic that Continue Reading →

My Letter to CMS

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I am a two-time breast cancer survivor. My first diagnosis I had left chest radiation that left me with tethered tissue that affected my range of motion and ability to sleep on my left side. Because of this, DIEP flap was the only safe breast reconstruction option for me. Had I had implants along with an expander placed first, I ran a very high risk of infection and further breakdown of the tissue due to the radiation. This is my letter to CMS preserving women’s right to choose DIEP flap. Instead, my highly skilled micro-surgeon removed a great deal of the scar tissue that resulted from the radiation and replaced it with new, soft tissue from the DIEP flap he performed on me twelve years after my first diagnosis. I now lay comfortably on my left side. Additionally, my range of motion is greatly improved. Patient Stories to CMS I Continue Reading →

Why DIEP Flap is the Best Recommended Breast Reconstruction Option

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The focus of this blog is two-fold. I will provide information regarding an upcoming public hearing concerning recent changes to insurance coverage for DIEP flap breast reconstruction. It will be held on June 1, 2023. The hearing will allow patients affected by breast cancer to become involved. I share my personal feeling that it is important for readers to understand the magnitude of this hearing regarding access to and coverage for breast reconstruction. There are many medical reasons why DIEP flap is the best recommended breast reconstruction option. Information Regarding Public Hearing on Breast Reconstruction Over the past few months, there has been a lot of information sharing on social media regarding coding changes to DIEP flap surgery. The collective voices sharing this information in multiple formats, coalitions formed, and no matter what organization it is from, has resulted in the public hearing held by CMS. I want to share Continue Reading →

From Diagnosis to Regaining Strength after DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction

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I remember well the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I found out when I received a phone call about my first diagnosis. It honestly felt surreal, like a gut punch when I picked up the phone and heard, “You have breast cancer.” The second time it was in person when I was called back to the radiologist’s office on my way home. The phone rang telling me to return after being cleared to go by a resident. I knew it wasn’t going to be good. But from diagnosis to regaining strength after DIEP flap, I made it through like so many others. My Diagnosis, Both Does the moment and emotions you experienced when you were diagnosed ever go away? I often hear the day, time, place, and how one felt is forever etched in your mind. It still is for me. How did you feel? My palms were Continue Reading →

Exercises Pre and Post DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

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There are several studies reporting the benefits of exercise for cancer patients. The studies center around maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle before during and after cancer treatment and surgery. I have long been a proponent of the value of exercise. In this blog I will share what I practice and know about exercises pre and post DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Taking it to the Streets The video I share gives an example of some simple, yet effective exercises guided by a trained exercise physiologist. We are filming at the Wolfe Foundation Cancer Wellness Program at the McConnell Heart Health Center in Columbus, Ohio. Whether you are part of an online class or in person class, I encourage breast cancer and breast reconstruction patients to ask their healthcare team if there is a local or online exercise program available in their area. While some people are incentivized by exercising in Continue Reading →

DIEP Flap Reducing Abdominal Wall Complications

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Looking at the analytics on the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel I realized this video, DIEP Flap reducing abdominal wall complications with Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo is worthy of a blog summary. For our viewers, some value watching the video while others find it helpful to read the information. Having in a blog will allow you to print it if you feel it will help you at your surgical consult. Speaking to your surgeon about reducing abdominal complications in DIEP flap breast reconstruction is an important part of the conversation. Hernia and Bulging in DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction Dr. C begins our conversation with “Well, you know how I feel about the belly”. I agree and point out the other video we did on the topic, “The Aesthetics of the Belly in DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction”. Dr. C and I like to share these across multiple channels. This video can also be found Continue Reading →

Dismayed at Coding Changes and What is Being Taken Away from the Breast Cancer Community

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I returned from the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons’ meeting late Tuesday this past week on January 24, 2023. What has been happening in the world of access to care and choice in breast reconstruction has shattered many of us in this community. There are many passionate surgeons who have dedicated their lives to performing the DIEP flap surgery. Patients affected are dismayed at coding changes and what is being taken away from the breast cancer community. The Coding Changes and What is Being Taken Away DIEP flap surgery is not going away. It is access to care thereby limiting our choice of what type of reconstructive surgery breast cancer patients can choose after mastectomy and loss of breast. The process of why these codes have been taken away, the S-code, is a complex system and decision process made by medical governing organizations. It involves evaluation of work hours spent 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 →