Breast Reconstruction
Every patient who had reconstruction said it was the biggest challenge of everything – mastectomy, chemo and radiation - Dr. Joanne Weidhaas
image by: satyrenko
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Reconstruction after breast cancer: It's not a boob job
I’m being sarcastic, of course. Only a fool would confuse breast reconstruction with a boob job, but sadly, there seem to be a lot of fools out there. I should know; I used to be one of them, until a radiologist uttered those three little words that have made such a difference to so many peoples’ lives: You have cancer.
After that, everything changed, including my understanding of what women have to go through to get their girls back. And trust me, it’s not easy and it’s not quick.
Unless you’re lucky. Or Angelina Jolie. Jolie had immediate reconstruction after her prophylactic mastectomy. Breast tissue comes out, tissue expanders go in, then the TEs (as they're called)…
Resources
Breast Cancer Reconstruction: Maybe I Wasn't Quite Honest With The Doctor
This breast cancer survivor had a double mastectomy with reconstruction and reflects on the questions she wishes she'd asked the doctor, in hindsight.
Flat Out: Rejecting Breast Reconstruction
After a double mastectomy, Catherine Guthrie wanted to retain her strength and challenge the idea of feminine norms.
Helping Breast Cancer Survivors Afford Reconstruction
70% of breast cancer survivors who have had mastectomies are unsure or unaware of their reconstruction options. The Alliance in Reconstructive Surgery (AiRS) Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds for women who have had mastectomies and cannot afford reconstructive surgery.
New Approach to Breast Reconstruction May Reduce Pain and Weakness for Some
Placing breast implants under the chest muscle, a procedure called post-pectoralis or sub-muscular placement, has been the standard approach to implant breast reconstruction for decades. But now some surgeons are placing the implants on top of the muscle, in an effort to reduce complications like pain, weakness and breast deformities that can occur with sub-muscular implants when the chest muscles are flexed.
No One Talks About the Emotional Side of Breast Reconstruction
Many women who choose reconstructive surgery after breast cancer are surprised at how different their breasts feel. Others are disappointed when the surgery doesn’t go as planned. And almost none are prepared for the complex emotions of coming to terms with ‘a new body.’
One in Three Women Undergoing Breast Reconstruction Have Complications
One in five requires more surgery, and in 5 percent of cases, reconstruction fails.
Life After Breast Cancer: An Innovative Approach to Breast Reconstruction
A young and passionate entrepreneur, Valentina Morigi and her team at Tensive, are working on new solutions for reconstructive surgery in order to improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients by giving them a valid alternative to silicone implants. Tensive’s revolutionary technology aims to stimulate the regeneration of natural fat. Tensive prostheses, not yet tested on humans, are based on synthetic and biodegradable biomaterials and designed to be gradually degraded and replaced by the patient’s fat tissue once the regeneration is complete.
Rebuilding the Breast
From stem cells to 3D-printed nipples, breast reconstruction is a highly technical and constantly evolving field.
Defying Doctors, More Women With Breast Cancer Choose Double Mastectomies
Allison Michael Orenstein for The Wall Street Journal WSJ Recent years have seen significant advances in breast reconstruction, leading more women to have double mastectomies. Doctors have developed techniques not simply for better implants, but also to rebuild a woman’s breast using her own tissue taken from other parts of her body. These operations can take several hours for each side, but result in a more natural look and feel.
No Easy Choices on Breast Reconstruction
An array of new techniques, each with its own risks and potential benefits, makes for bewildering options for women.
Plastic Surgery Is Not for Everyone: Options Following a Mastectomy
A woman with a breast cancer diagnosis faces many sudden choices, and in the emotional frenzy, reconstruction decisions may get short shrift.
Some Hidden Choices in Breast Reconstruction
For many cancer patients undergoing mastectomies, reconstructive breast surgery can seem like a first step to reclaiming their bodies. But even as promising new operations are gaining traction at academic medical centers, plastic surgeons often fail to tell patients about them. One reason is that not all surgeons have trained to perform the latest procedures. Another reason is money: some complex surgeries are less profitable for doctors and hospitals, so they have less of an incentive to offer them, doctors say.
The Look, Feel, and Touch of Reconstructed Breasts
A woman considering reconstruction after mastectomy has one concern foremost in her mind: How “real” will her reconstructed breasts be? Will her surgical outcome be worth the effort? Will she look good as new? How closely will her new breast match her natural breast?
The Myths That Keep Women From Breast Reconstruction After Cancer
Misconceptions may be keeping many women from getting breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, even though the procedure can help improve quality of life for cancer survivors, according to a new review.
Reconstruction after breast cancer: It's not a boob job
I’m being sarcastic, of course. Only a fool would confuse breast reconstruction with a boob job, but sadly, there seem to be a lot of fools out there.
Alliance in Reconstructive Surgery
The AiRS mission is to provide women access to breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. We advocate for, educate, and support breast cancer survivors by raising awareness, building confidence, and restoring dignity through funding and the support of our professional network across the country.
Tensive
The loss of a breast can psychologically impact the life of a breast cancer patient. Tensive's long-term mission is to restore a natural breast to patients who experienced reconstructive surgery after mastectomy or lumpectomy, to improve their quality of life and avoiding recurrent and expensive surgical operations.
Breast Reconstruction Matters
I'm participating on this site to help women like you find answers to their questions about breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and gain the confidence to discuss their breast reconstruction options with their surgeons. Breast reconstruction is the right of every woman who has had, or is planning to have, a mastectomy. Surprisingly, though, only a small percentage of women facing a mastectomy are offered breast reconstruction.
BreastReconstruction.org
BreastReconstruction.org was created to help empower women to make informed choices about breast reconstruction. These are decisions that are important to women undergoing breast cancer treatment as well as women who choose risk reducing mastectomies, including those who carry the BRCA genetic mutation. Breast reconstruction is an important step for so many women to move beyond their diagnosis, and reclaim their lives.
BreastCancer.org
It's also important to know that while breast reconstruction rebuilds the shape of the breast, it doesn't restore sensation to the breast or the nipple. Over time, the skin over the reconstructed breast can become more sensitive to touch, but it won't be exactly the same as it was before surgery.
PlasticSurgery.org
Breast reconstruction is achieved through several plastic surgery techniques that attempt to restore a breast to near normal shape, appearance and size following mastectomy.
RealSelf
RealSelf members share their treatment experiences and photos, along with doctor reviews, costs, and candid opinions on what's worth it (or not).
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