The public launch of “Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: What’s Right for You” at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital drew a great, attentive crowd, including former Michigan Public Health Director Vernice Anthony. The book will be available again on July 2 on Amazon.com, after selling out. It currently is available at the Barnes and Noble book store, Grosse Pointe Woods.

Anstett plans similar programs with health systems this year, as one way of getting out the word to women about information may look hard to find.

Next up: June 27, Methodist Hospital, San Antonio, operating home of Dr. Minas Chyrsopoulo, one of the nation’s top breast reconstruction surgery.  Medical writer Patricia Anstett obtained permission last year from the hospital to watch a nipple-sparing double mastectomy procedure using a woman’s own abdominal tissue and blood vessels. The woman’s story and her surgery anchor the breast reconstruction with tissue chapter in the book. These inside-the-OR stories are among the unique aspects of this book, told with moving photographs by award-winning photographer Kathleen Galligan.

More Detroit events are planned in August, September and October, Anstett also has been asked to moderate two surgery panels at the FORCE conference in Orlando in October. 

The story behind the writing of “Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: What’s Right for You” begins with the nipple.

A dear friend and breast cancer survivor invited me to join her and her mom for a 10-hour road trip to suburban Baltimore for my friend’s nipple tattooing session with nationally known breast tattoo artist Vinnie Myers. He sees women from all over the country and calls a nipple tattoo “the cherry on the cupcake.”

I went, observed and came back with a bunch of questions I asked of doctors. Then I wrote a sample chapter, “The Nipple: The Ultimate Challenge.” This chapter got me a contract with a large publishing company, Rowman and Littlefield, in two amazing weeks. After that, my reporter’s curiosity and instincts led me to dozens of other questions. I hope the book provides resources to women facing surgery, with or without reconstruction; that it gives helpful insights to those who have been there already; and provides medical schools and hospitals with new open approaches talking to patients about these issues.

Patricia Anstett

Author

A new book, “Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: What’s Right for You,” comes out today. There are few resources like this and none with real insights from women, told in their own words, along with photography by Kathleen Galligan that captures their healing spirit. The book is $35 from Rowman and Littlefield and available on Amazon.com and some Barnes and Noble and other select bookstores.

On June 29, author Patricia Anstett, a long-time medical writer, will launch the book with a community event on the topic, with a book-signing, from 5-7 at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. Other events are planned throughout the upcoming year.

#BreastReconstruction # breastcancer #plasticsurgery