San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

Research was recently presented at the 2011 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Among the results were that generally the ratio between those having breast reconstruction after mastectomy was somewhat stable... 42% of women younger than 50 and 17% of women 50 and older underwent immediate breast reconstruction over a 10 year period. Notably there remain barriers but as a group we will continue educating our patients regarding the potential benefits of breast reconstruction.. Best wishes for the New Year!

Fall is in the air

I saw one of my favorite patients today who had recently completed her reconstruction; I always know that when I see her it's usually been too long since I have registered something on the blog! seeing our patients remind us it is a special privilege to be able to help our breast cancer patients through reconstruction, one person at a time...

Walk for the Cure

Members of our office and patients participated in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk last week and once again it was a important event bringing patients, family, and caregivers alike together for a single cause.....

Lipofilling of the breast following lumpectomy

There continues to be more press about the technique of harvesting fat through liposuction from one area of the body and filling a lumpectomy defect of the breast in reconstruction, as evidenced by the article seen on the right column in WebMD... the concern is the longterm effects of fat in the remaining breast tissue whether or not that it affects surveillance, mammography or stimulates any cells from growing...

The Boston Channel

There was an article from our group posted this month on the Boston Channel (see below link) related to breast reconstruction using abdominal tissue while preserving muscle...
There are several options for breast reconstruction, and each may be better suited for each individual patient....

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/bethisrael/28472497/detail.html

Making the day

Few things make a breast reconstructive surgeon's day more than the realization of a patient when a breast reconstruction has restored their sense of being whole....
Thanks very much to the individual who posted a comment on "Light of the End of the Tunnel"- it is also a tribute to our entire staff who help us take the best care of our patients!

Avoiding radiation

I saw a patient this past week who was deciding between having a lumpectomy with radiation versus undergoing a complete mastectomy... Though everything depends on the pathology of the tumor, etc, and one's breast surgeon, indeed there are those patients who are able to have a mastectomy and avoid radiation altogether...

In reconstructive breast surgery, plastic surgeons ceratainly find the aspect of prior irradiation an important detail when planning a reconstruction