Tag: DIEP flap breast reconstruction

How to Host a Breast Reconstruction Community Gathering

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I want to extend a note of gratitude to the members of the DiepCJourney private Facebook page for their inspiration writing this blog, how to host a breast reconstruction community gathering. For the readers, this is a community of learning, support, and sharing. I began “The Journey” Facebook group in 2015 before starting my nonprofit, DiepCFoundation. Now, this community has become an integral part of the Foundation work. I am inspired daily by their curiosity about breast reconstruction surgery, support for each other, and the friendships made along the way. You can see on the Advocacy page I recently held a community gathering of local Journey members. I want to share some tips on how to host your own breast reconstruction community gathering. Tip #1 for you Breast Reconstruction Community Gathering Ask yourself why you are having it. What purpose do you want to accomplish? It might be for the Continue Reading →

The Rewards and Risks of Traveling for Patient Advocacy

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Let’s dispense with the not so good news first. It is far less than the good news I will write about regarding the rewards and risks of traveling for patient advocacy. The Risks of Traveling for Patient Advocacy Patient advocates I know go into this work with their eyes wide open when they travel to conferences or events for their work. We know what can and sometimes does happen. I wanted to talk about these first because they are short-lived risks. The fallout from any of the above items passes in a brief time. We deal with them as they happen knowing we will return to our advocacy work in no time because of dealing with any of the above-mentioned events. The Rewards of Traveling for Patient Advocacy This is the real magic sauce of being a patient advocate and traveling on behalf of the communities we serve. My work Continue Reading →

Achieving Symmetry and Understanding Fat Grafting in Breast Reconstruction

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This is a summary of the video and podcast interview with Dr. Tim Matatov of Southwest Breast and Aesthetics in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, Arizona area. When I see hundreds of views of a video and close to two hundred podcast downloads I also like to provide a written summary for readers to hit on all learning modalities and preferences. I will include the YouTube video of Achieving Symmetry and Understanding Fat Grafting in this blog post. You can listen to the podcast here: How Mastopexy Achieves Symmetry in Breast Reconstruction We begin with a topic that is often asked about in the breast cancer community served at DiepCFoundation, mastopexy in the setting of breast reconstruction. A mastopexy is a breast lift. Dr. Matatov points out that whether a person has a single breast reconstruction with their own tissue, and implant, or oncoplastic reconstruction, sometimes the contralateral breast will not match Continue Reading →

“The Patient Voice Has Been Heard!”

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This was a huge week in the world of patient advocacy. Across social media airwaves, we learned that the S-codes for autologous breast reconstruction will be retained. It was a monumental accomplishment achieved because of the efforts of many organizations, surgeons, and breast cancer survivors across the United States. The title of this blog, “The Patient Voice Has Been Heard”, is a quote from someone who is a huge proponent of patient advocacy. I will reveal who the quote is from at the end of this blog. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) held a public hearing on June 1 of this year after a great deal of concern regarding news that S-codes covering autologous breast reconstruction would be sunset on December 31, 2024. The time frame alone struck fear in those planning reconstruction like DIEP flap. The victory hearing this decision was reversed by the voice of many Continue Reading →

Democratization in Microsurgery: The Proximie System

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Democratization is a noun. The meaning of democratization as it pertains to microsurgery is the action of making training and education available through technology, in this case, microsurgery in breast reconstruction. The chosen field of microsurgery requires hours of training and practice. Observing colleagues perform this sophisticated and complex surgery increases their own skill set with the primary goal being improving patient outcomes in breast reconstruction. My guests are going to discuss their cross-continental experience working live in the operating theater practicing democratization in microsurgery using the Proximie System. An Introduction of the Microsurgeons Using the Proximie System I invited back to the DiepCJourney podcast two internationally known microsurgeons. Dr. Joe Dusseldorp practices in Sydney, Australia and is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of surgeons. He has a keen interest in microsurgery and did his training overseas to achieve this status. He is also trained to do robotic Continue Reading →

Introducing BulbPendant for Drain Management During Breast Surgery

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The perfect solution for the management of Jackson Pratt bulb drains. From the HandandHand Medical website Successful recovery depends on the ability to heal without worry. But as physicians, patients and caregivers know, bulb drains are incredibly stressful. After surgery, the bulbs are loose, and patients do not know what to do with them. Drains can also become dislodged, requiring another procedure to replace them. BulbPendant for drain management during breast reconstruction not only solves these problems it relieves patients of the stress of dealing with bulb drains. Eliminating learning curves is a huge advantage. They (BP) are simple, so intuitive, it’s self-explanatory fitting 99% of all patients. The patient simply bows their head, keeping their elbows down at their sides while the neoprene band slides over their shoulders. The drain bulbs insert into the mesh pedant and easily clip into place, 30 seconds and you are done. BP is designed Continue Reading →

Education about DIEP Flap: One Simple Rule

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Can we assign one simple rule regarding education about DIEP flap breast reconstruction? Yes, this one simple rule is to listen. This is where it begins. I have learned from patients and surgeons that listening is the first action required to educate. It reveals what is important for patients and what they desire to understand about the process and decision to have DIEP flap. I have learned from surgeons it is important for patients to take the time to listen to surgeons to understand what they can achieve for a patient in a DIEP flap consultation.   My Introduction and Education about DIEP Flap I was a student in April of 2014 during my second diagnosis of breast cancer. In the months following my double mastectomy I did what I now tell others to do. “Do your homework to find the right plastic surgeon”. I listened to all breast reconstruction Continue Reading →

TruSense℠: Restoring Sensation and Wholeness after Breast Cancer Surgery

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Many women are left numb after mastectomy. At PRMA in San Antonio, Texas they have created the term TruSense℠ that refers to restoring sensation and wholeness after breast cancer surgery. I interviewed Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo to learn why this procedure is important to patients. Maintaining Breast Sensation after Breast Cancer Surgery Dr. Chrysopoulo, Dr. C to his patients, points out the good news first. We now have surgical techniques where there are ways of maintaining sensation and even restoring it. There are variations in mastectomy results. The breast surgeon has a lot to do with how much feeling they have after mastectomy. Thus, this is a breast surgeon issue since they are the ones removing the breast gland that contain the nerves that provide feeling. Dr. C points out they do not do it on purpose it is just the way the nerves travel through the breast tissue. There are Continue Reading →

Fatigued by Being Affected by Breast Cancer?

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People are affected by breast cancer in many ways. A person diagnosed can be fatigued from treatments. Some effects may seem short-term after finishing chemotherapy, radiation, or having surgery. Those in the metastatic breast cancer community have life-long effects they face for the remainder of their lives. I am speaking of the long-term effects of fatigue and being affected by breast cancer in both of these groups. The Fatigue that Effects Daily Living        Fatigue from breast cancer can come in many forms. You may feel physically fatigued from having surgery or undergoing treatment. It disrupts your body’s system causing it to work overtime during the healing process. As you sit in your chair feeling this way, you may become sad, feeling helpless, as you watch others trying to take care of you when perhaps a week or month before surgery or treatment you were the one taking care of others. Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Nipple Tattoo Artistry Experience

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This story is about three friends in vastly separate places in their lives, uniquely connected through the breast cancer experience, and a narrative of a breast reconstruction nipple tattoo artistry experience. Whitney’s Breast Reconstruction Story I met Whitney in 2019 shortly after moving back to Seattle. Our past connections are uncanny. We remain friends and the story behind how it came to be still warms my heart. You can read more about it in this blog and how Whitney’s genetic mutation for ATM and CHEK2 put her at high risk for getting breast cancer. She completed her breast reconstruction Journey traveling to San Antonio having her DIEP flap performed at PRMA. Whitney communicated with me while she was in Texas revealing how pleased she was with her surgery. My heart was happy to hear about support from her husband and other Journey members living in the San Antonia area. Because Continue Reading →