INTRO TO THE BOOK

Women today have better options to create new breasts after surgery for cancer or to prevent it. But most don’t emerge with new breasts and nipples in a single operation.  It may take a year, even much longer, to finish the job.

Women face potential complications every step along the way. Some never complete the work. Women who choose to remain flat may face pressure to consider reconstruction from families, friends and doctors, especially if they are young. Even finding the right breast cancer team — a breast and plastic surgeon — who present all options fairly or who accept your health insurance can be tough.

BCsurgerystories.com and our book, “Breast Cancer Surgery & Reconstruction: What’s Right for You,” reframe the important discussion about lumpectomy, mastectomy and breast reconstruction around the women who have had these operations.

It was written by long-time medical writer Patricia Anstett, who spent a 40-year newspaper career covering women’s health issues, including breast cancer. Now, she spends her time reporting on #breastcancer surgery and #breastreconstruction choices. She administers the book’s companion web site to foster discussion on these issues.

With photopraphy of women eloquently captured by Kathleen Galligan, a two-time Emmy-award-winning photographer, the book offers womens’ unique viewpoints about the less-discussed but essential part of breast cancer: the surgery nearly every woman has, regardless of whether she has reconstruction or not.

Three months after Galligan began on the project, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her story anchors one of the chapters in the book, published in June, 2016 by Rowman & Littlefield.

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The home to discuss mastectomy, lumpectomy and reconstruction.