Breast Reconstruction Provides Hope and Healing
October has been designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month in countries across the world. The goal of this campaign is to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment of a disease that is the most common cancer in women worldwide.
Did you know that less than half of women who undergo mastectomy have their breast reconstructed?
Along with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Plastic Surgery Foundation, I believe all patients with a breast cancer diagnosis should receive information about reconstruction options before they undergo cancer surgery.
As a Plastic Surgeon with a strong interest in breast cancer reconstruction, I appreciate when the breast surgeon allows me to meet their patient prior to any surgery so that we can collaborate on providing you with the best treatment plan. The obvious first goal of surgery is to treat the cancer. Next is to reconstruct the breast with an approach most suitable to your goals, life style and overall health.
For women who want to preserve their breast but avoid asymmetries between their breasts after a lumpectomy, oncoplastic breast reconstruction may be an option. This is performed in conjunction with lumpectomy and usually allows preservation of the nipple and areola. The defect created from the cancer removal is treated by rearranging your own breast tissue. Not all women are candidates for this option, however, patients with large or sagging breasts can especially benefit from an oncoplastic reduction or lift. Surgery to reduce or lift the opposite breast is typically covered by your insurance.
For women who choose or who require mastectomy (complete removal of the breast, often with the nipple and areola) for breast cancer, there are multiple methods to reconstruct a breast if desired. Reconstruction can take place either at the time of mastectomy or at a later date and usually requires more than one procedure to complete. There are three main categories of breast reconstruction today: implant-based (also called alloplastic) reconstruction, using your body’s own tissue or a “flap” (also known as autologous) reconstruction, and a hybrid of both your own tissue and implants. Fat grafting (using your body’s own fat through liposuction and injecting it into the breast) has also become a major addition in breast reconstruction.
Numerous studies have shown that the main reason breast cancer patients are not offered the option of breast reconstruction is due to proximity to a plastic surgeon. Fortunately for the patients of Baton Rouge, there are many capable reconstructive surgeons in our area, however, this is unfortunately not the case in smaller and rural communities. Two specific groups of patients who are particularly underserved in breast reconstruction are African American women and patients in the Medicare population. Links for more information on this are below.
I believe that plastic surgery and breast reconstruction play a vital role in the holistic approach to breast cancer treatment.
Breast reconstruction is not for all women and is a very personal decision that should be made through collaboration and understanding between you and your surgeon. My mission as your plastic surgeon is to be your agent of hope and healing.
- Dr. Kate Chiasson
P.S. – Here are some links and resources you may find helpful.
If all of this seems overwhelming – it is! That is because there are so many options for breast reconstruction, it is easy for a patient to feel lost and confused. But do not worry!! Meeting and speaking with a plastic surgeon who performs all types of breast reconstruction will allow you to understand which options you are a candidate for, and most importantly, which option is the best for you based on your case and your goals!
SISTERS NETWORK INC: https://www.sistersnetworkinc.org/resources.html
Sisters Network Inc. is a national organization founded to support African American breast cancer survivors. Sisters Network uses education and community to support cancer patients through their journeys through surgery and beyond. The website lists multiple resources, including financial assistance for African American women with breast cancer.
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGERY: http://www.plasticsurgery.org
The ASPS has lots of great patient resources for patients on all types of breast reconstruction. An educational video using 3-D animations on breast reconstruction can be found here: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction/animation
A link to the 2020 edition of their free breast reconstruction magazine can be found here: https://view.imirus.com/1204/document/13423/page/1
There are loads of other great blog and vlog posts on the subject as well which you can find here: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction