Here’s an important less-discussed issue for thousands of women who undergo lumpectomy and radiation. Reconstruction is best done in stages after surgery, an MD Anderson team finds. We explore the issue of delayed reconstruction in our upcoming book, Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: What’s Best for You” coming June 16.
Undergoing a preventive double mastectomy does not improve a woman’s overall sense of well-being, though breast reconstruction did boost a woman’s satisfaction with her body, as well as improve her sex life, a study says. Mastectomy outcomes, particularly long-term ones, are the focus of a University of Michigan study we are following, with new research to be published this year.
Brava is a tissue-stretching device for breast reconstruction, for thin, small breasted women who don’t have enough fat for a tissue-transfer reconstruction procedure. Brava involves wearing a tight-fitting chest device for hours at a time, for weeks at a time. Here, the Florida inventor describes the option, which he says typically involves 5 or 6 surgical procedures for companion fat-grafting procedures. Not for everyone, Diane Mapes of Seattle told us for our book, in a chapter on delayed reconstruction. Mapes has written about her Brava experience on her blog, doublewhammied.com
As desireable as it may sound, most women who have breast reconstruction will have two or more procedures, a top plastic surgeon says. Here’s a look at the realities from Dr. Minas Chyropoulo of San Antonio, for the web site of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
DIEP Tops Other Abdominal Tissue Reconstruction Methods; fewest complications. More Centers May Drop Methods that Don’t Spare Muscle, Authors Say
Breast reconstruction has risen 35% since 2000, according to the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Implant-based reconstruction still far outnumbers autologous tissue breast reconstruction. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/2016/new-statistics-reflect-the-changing-face-of-plastic-surgery.html
Several decades ago, hospitals abandoned a trend called drive-through mastectomy, when women stayed less than a day. Why was it abandoned and what do you think of this trend? We’d like to hear from you.
#BreastReconstruction #mastectomy #breastcancersurgery
Nearly three years ago, hearing that many women who undergo reconstruction end up with no nipples, or poor imitations of them, we began reporting that led to our book, ”Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction: What is Right for You.” It’s still is a big issue that a Tulane University biotech researcher hopes to address with a way to harvest the structure and even donate it to others. http://www.wwltv.com/story/life/2016/02/18/tulane-scientist-may-have-breakthrough-breast-reconstruction/80580604
This study underscores the premise of our book : Too many women are uninformed about breast reconstruction — the choices, the problems, the discussion. This was the very problem we identified two years ago when we started the book.
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/35666/20160110/breast-reconstruction-surgery-many-women-arent-aware-of-the-complications.htm
Despite widespread awareness of breast cancer, women still know little about the surgery many have. Here’s the study that begs for more information for women.
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-01-gaps-patient-knowledge-breast-reconstruction.html