by Hannah Leatherbury, Education Contributor
Perhaps you or someone you know has gotten one of the 78,000 mastectomies that are performed every year in the United States as part of a breast cancer treatment plan. Were you, or your loved one, concerned about losing one or more of your breasts, but not given enough information to comfortably make a decision about potentially reconstructing your breast?
You are not alone.
Findings from a national survey conducted by Cancer Support Community found that 43% of women eligible for breast cancer reconstruction did not receive information about their options during their treatment.
You may be wondering, is it possible to reconstruct your breast if you decided to wait? How long would the process take and what resources would it require?
Two resources may help you with this inquiry:
The first is a short video that provides an animation of how a breast is reconstructed with details about where incisions are made, what materials are used, and how long the reconstruction process could take.
The second is a free copy of Frankly Speaking about Cancer: Breast Reconstruction. This comprehensive resource contains descriptions of:
- types of breast reconstruction options
- description of how each process works
- how surgeons can mitigate side effects and decrease time it takes to heal
- clothing and comfort tips
Get your free Second Edition copy of Frankly Speaking about Cancer: Breast Reconstruction by downloading it or having a hard copy shipped to you after you order online here.
