Category Archives: Making of the book

Where to Get the Book

“Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: What’s Right for You,” can be ordered on Amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/Breast-Cancer-Surgery-Reconstruction-Whats/dp/1442242620/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468107180&sr=8-1&keywords=breast+cancer+surgery. It is available in hardbound, kindle and paperback editions.

It also is available in many public libraries (if not in stock, ask for it through a lending library program) and Barnes & Noble’s site: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breast-cancer-surgery-and-reconstruction-patricia-anstett/1123245854?ean=9781442242630

Women You Will Meet In Our Book

Two years ago this month, Emmy Pontz-Rickert, 24, of Ypsilanti Twp. Mich., found out she had breast cancer. She is one of the women we chose to be the face of our book, Breast Cancer Surgery & Reconstruction: What’s Right for You” to be published in June, 2016 by Rowman & Littlefield. Her story resonates here again. Emmy is the mother of a darling little girl, Grace, born this year. She is active in an African orphanage as well as in Michigan breast cancer causes, where she shares her story about breast cancer surgery and reconstruction issues so other women will benefit. Go Emmy.

Emmy Pontz-Rickert's photo.

Emmy Pontz-Rickert

In a few hours, I go in for my second mastectomy and the beginning of reconstruction. I have been down such a journey thus far, including other surgeries and c

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BIOS

Patricia Anstett is an experienced medical writer who worked 40 years in newspaper journalism in Chicago, Washington D.C. and Detroit, her hometown. For the last 22 years of her professional newspaper career she was a medical writer for the Detroit Free Press, retiring in September, 2011. In 2017, she was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, and she was named Headliner of the Year by the Association for Women in Communications. In April, 2019, she was named an outstanding alumni of Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences.

She is the author of two books _ “Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: What’s Right for You,” published in 2016 by Rowman and Littlefield, and “Triumph: Inspirational Stories from the Beaumont,” published in 2014 by the Beaumont Health system. She administers a Facebook page and web site on the topic at (bcsurgerystories.com and https://www.facebook.com/groups/BCsurgstories/). She volunteers actively with two breast cancer groups: The Pink Fund, and the Tri-County Breast and Cervical Cancer Control program; serves on the patient advisory council for the Henry Ford Health System; and is on the board of the Detroit chapter of the Association for Women in Communications.

For the last 22 years of her professional newspaper career she was a medical writer for the Detroit Free Press. Her award-winning stories  extensively covered breast cancer,  breast surgery and reconstruction and mammography.  State cancer leaders credit her reporting for exposing failing mammography centers that led to substantial improvements in the quality of mammography standards in Michigan, a model for federal legislation. Other awards citing her reporting came from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, for breast implant coverage; the Vivian Castleberry Award, a national competition for her stories about breast biopsy options; and the American Cancer Society and the Barbara Karmanos Cancer Institute for the accuracy and comprehensiveness of her breast cancer reporting.

Her freelance articles have appeared in the Reader’s Digest; the National Observer; the Chicago Tribune; Washingtonian and Chicago magazines; and Paris Match. She was part of a reporting team that published The Suicide Machine,  about the first 47 patients to seek assisted suicide from the late Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

Bite Me Cancer_01Kathleen Galligan, photographer, is an Emmy award-winning photographer and videographer who specializes in women’s health, social justice, mental health, poverty, and juvenile justice issues. A single mother with two sons, Galligan worked as a plastic surgery center photographer before joining the Detroit Free Press in 2002. Her first online documentary project, “Christ Child,” about a residential treatment center for severely abused and neglected boys, was awarded a national news and documentary Emmy in 2009. Her work also has captured a National Headliners Award in journalistic innovation as well as numerous national and state awards in photography.

BOOK SUMMARY

BOOK SUMMARY:  

Despite widespread awareness of breast cancer, much less is known about the surgeries most women have for cancer or preventing it, particularly mastectomy and reconstruction. Most women do not emerge with new breasts and nipples in a single operation. Breast reconstruction usually is done in two procedures and can takes months and even years, and can be painful and traumatic if unsuccessful. Some women never finish, living without nipples or with imperfect results. Others opt not to have reconstruction, yet often are pressured to do it.  A woman’s age, residence, insurance, hospital and breast surgeon all can affect her choice. Many women struggle with one of the biggest women’s health questions today: lumpectomy and radiation or mastectomy?

“Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: What’s Right for You” offers a glimpse into modern breast surgery and reconstruction with stories and photos of real women that provide a realistic and compelling look at what these procedures entail and the impact on womens’ lives. This is a unique book to help other women with issues surrounding their choices, with powerful insights from those who have been there.

 

SHORT VERSION: 45 words

Breast cancer surgery and reconstruction offer more choices for women than ever before. But looking back, women say they wish they knew more. Blending powerful insights from survivors with emotional and health perspectives, the authors provide a powerful resource for women and their loved ones.

 LONGER VERSION: 98 words

More than 100,000 American women undergo mastectomy and breast reconstruction every year. Thousands more are having double mastectomies to prevent it.

But most women do not emerge with a new breasts and nipples in a single operation. Breast reconstruction takes months and sometimes years. Some women never do, living without nipples or imperfect results. Health complications can occur any step along the way. Others struggle with one of the biggest women’s health questions today: Lumpectomy and radiation or mastectomy?

This is a book to help women with those issues, with powerful insights from women who have been there.

 

WE DID IT

We are delighted to report that we made our $18,000 Kickstarter goal to raise money to finish our book, “Breast Cancer Surgery & Reconstruction: What’s Best for You.”

The campaign is open through Thursday at:

http://kck.st/1yKVvKO

Donations will allow us to visit some cutting-edge programs and photograph women in other states to make this truly a diverse book. Thanks for your support and encouragement. It’s so affirming and very much appreciated.

Inside the world of breast reconstruction

Inside the world of breast reconstruction
Inside the world of breast reconstruction

Markings like these often are made by plastic surgeons in pre-opt appointments to indicate their surgery plan. This woman, who has experienced continued problems three years after a double mastectomy with silicone implant reconstruction, recently underwent an implant exchange procedure. Her doctor told her that her implants had flipped upside down, causing them to get painful, rock-hard and wrinkled. We need your help to finish this book; you can contribute with this quick link:

http://kck.st/1yKVvKO