Breast reconstruction after mastectomy: More than an option
(BPT) – Emotional distress, a sense of disconnection from one’s body and a decreased sense of femininity – these are all emotions breast cancer patients may feel following a mastectomy. However, there’s hope.
Breast reconstruction, a type of surgery that rebuilds the breasts of women who have had all or part of a breast removed, can improve psychological well-being and quality of life for women who have undergone a mastectomy. In addition, research shows breast reconstruction often results in improved body image and self-esteem. However, many women facing a mastectomy are not actually offered breast reconstruction as an option.
‘Addressing the tumor is only part of the course of treatment when dealing with breast cancer – breast reconstruction is an option every woman deserves whether she is considering a mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis or as a preventative measure,’ says Dr. Allen Gabriel, board-certified plastic surgeon at PeaceHealth Medical Group Plastic Surgery in Vancouver, Washington. ‘Breast reconstruction should be an early part of the discussion as women evaluate their treatment plans. The surgical decisions that are made early during breast cancer treatment will follow the patient a lifetime, and this is why every patient should have the opportunity to discuss her options with a plastic surgeon. Not every patient will choose to have reconstruction, or even be a reconstructive candidate, but every patient deserves to have the information at hand.’
Mastectomies are on the rise for breast cancer, according to recent studies, including a 2014 study published in JAMA Surgery that found the percentage of women with breast cancer who opted for a mastectomy (removing the entire breast) over a lumpectomy (removing the breast cancer) increased to 38 percent in 2011. Additionally, the Susan G. Komen Foundation reported there has been an increased rate of double mastectomies, which rose by about 17 percent per year during a 10-year period, due to an increased effort to prevent breast cancer in high-risk women.
Knowledge is power
Because of this, it’s more important than ever to educate and empower women to have the confidence to discuss their breast reconstruction options with their oncologists and surgeons, especially as there have been significant advancements to the surgical techniques, tools and the materials used in breast reconstruction in the past two decades. This means women who have breast cancer today have more choices and better outcomes than even just a few years ago.
‘When you first find out you have breast cancer, your doctors talk about your diagnosis, your prognosis, your treatment; however, some doctors don’t take the discussion further. The patient also wants and has a right to know what happens after the mastectomy,’ says Sherry Stose, a retired registered nurse and breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed in 2011.
On Jan. 18, 2012, Stose had a bilateral mastectomy with the start of her breast cancer reconstruction process. ‘I’m very happy with the choice I made to undergo breast reconstruction. For me it was when I felt truly healed,’ Stose says. ‘Because I had my breasts reconstructed, the fact I had breast cancer is not thrown in my face every day. I don’t see it every time I get out of the shower. In fact, many days, I feel so normal and complete that I forget I even had cancer.’
Several options to consider
The goal of breast reconstruction is to recreate the breast, and there are many options to do that. The reconstructive plan is individualized for each patient and dependent upon her situation. It’s important for women to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each breast reconstruction option with their plastic surgeons in order to determine their best path forward.
One innovative technology is AlloDerm(R) Regenerative Tissue Matrix from Acelity. AlloDerm Tissue Matrix is an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) that, when sutured into the breast pocket, readily incorporates with a patient’s own tissue. This allows for rapid and healthy revascularization, as well as minimal inflammation and scarring. The gentle processing of AlloDerm Tissue Matrix offers surgeons a solution for soft tissue support where weakness exists.
Tools such as ADMs, as well as fat grafting, allow surgeons in certain cases to reconstruct the breast on top of the patient’s pectoral muscle immediately following mastectomy. Pre-pectoral (over the muscle) breast reconstruction is achieved by utilizing both the ADMs and fat grafting as this allows surgeons to supplement the thin mastectomy skin.
‘Innovations and advances in breast reconstruction, such as AlloDerm Tissue Matrix and fat grafting, have really changed breast reconstruction. We are utilizing these tools to replace the missing components that mastectomy has removed, which are fat and breast tissue. These technologies have provided more options and allowed surgeons to optimize outcomes for patients with breast cancer who have to or choose to undergo mastectomy,’ says Dr. Gabriel. ‘Companies like Acelity are putting a strong emphasis on further advancing breast reconstruction approaches, working with plastic surgeons to understand new techniques and incorporate new technologies to help make breast reconstruction a less burdensome process for women.’
‘Since my diagnosis, I’ve become a mentor to other women with breast cancer, and the best advice I can give is to do everything you can to learn about your breast reconstruction options. Ask your doctors about your options. Ask your family. Ask your friends. Talk to another breast cancer patient,’ says Stose. ‘Just get all of the knowledge you can. Because ultimately, it’s your choice, and you need to make the decision about what is best for you.’
For more information about breast reconstruction options, visit www.breastreconstructionmatters.com. For more information on AlloDerm Tissue Matrix, including the instructions for use, visit AlloDerm® Instructions for Use. Talk to your doctor about which option may be right for you.