A Deeper Look at Double Mastectomies

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Breast cancer research has really reached the forefront of cancer prevention and medical studies, and with good reason. Just ask around, and you will find that almost everyone’s life has been touched in some way by breast cancer, especially the older they are, since they’ve probably seen at least one friend, acquaintance, or family member suffer the disease.

That’s because it is the second most common cancer to affect women, followed by skin cancer, depending on where you read the figures. Some place breast cancer as the most common in women, which definitely may be true, especially considering the cases that go undiagnosed for long periods of time.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than 50,000 women will be diagnosed with carcinoma in situ, which is one of the earliest forms of breast cancer.

The ACS provides detailed information regarding the different treatment options available for women who are diagnosed with the disease. Because the illness can be diagnosed in different stages, women are encouraged to explore all treatment options with their physician to determine which is best for their particular situation.

There have been more and more about women, young women, who are opting to have a radical procedure called a double mastectomy, which is the complete removal of both breasts, so that they may not live in fear of getting breast cancer after testing positive for the gene defect that puts them in a high risk category for this disease.

A double mastectomy involves the complete and total removal of the breasts, the tissue, and everything. It seems extreme, doesn’t it? However, with celebrities like Christina Applegate having a mastectomy, the spotlight is on the disease and how it has scared a lot of women into having this procedure, especially with the advent of genetic screening.

Genetic screening can tell a woman with fair certainty, by looking at her genetics and DNA, whether she will get breast cancer in her life, or at least what the percentage odds are. Sometimes those odds are close to 100%, and this is usually what causes women to undergo the radical breast removal procedure double mastectomy most often.

Sadly, there are many women who are having this done without knowing for sure they would have gotten the disease. Double mastectomies will probably save a lot of lives in the future, but we’re really not far enough into this trend to tell, since this just started to become a trend after genetic testing became more popular and common. We’ll see in the future if these surgeries truly were lifesaving events.

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Regain Your Confidence with Mastectomy Bras

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After single or double mastectomy surgery, women do have the choice of breast reconstruction. Those who do not opt for reconstruction can use prosthetic devices such as a mastectomy bra. These bras are designed to create the normal symmetry proportionate to a woman’s body. They are available in a variety of styles and colors – sexy, but comfortable and secure.

For the most part, bras take on a whole new meaning post mastectomy surgery. While traditionally, bras are about showing cleavage, mastectomy bras are more about looking and feeling good without any cleavage. However, they do give you the opportunity to wear low-cut tops and even engage in strenuous athletic activities without any hassles. Thanks to lightweight silicone breast forms and other non-silicone forms, there are plenty of options available when it comes to bras. Finding the right bra is a matter of trial and error although you aren’t spoiled for choice.

Among the popular manufacturers of mastectomy bras is American Breast Care that offers a wide selection of post mastectomy products. You can find them here online. One of their fashionable pocketed bras is the ABC Casual T-Shirt Mastectomy Bra 114. Designed to provide maximum stretch and form, the bra features soft molded cups with convertible straps so that it can be comfortably worn in different styles. The bra is ideal for women looking for a less constricting bra rather than compression and support. The 114 is available only in beige.

Women looking for a compression bra ought to consider the Amoena Patricia Compression Bra is available for you. The bra features a front-closure compression vest made from Naturexx® blend fabric that offers a two-way stretch for optimum comfort and dissipates body heat. This bra from Ameona is available in white only.

The TruLife Activity Bra 330 is perfect for women with an active lifestyle. The bra combines comfort and functionality while the CoolMax pocket fabric keeps the body cool. It also features a lightly padded strap extension that is soft on the skin and elastic binding on the neckline and armholes for extra comfort. The bra can be ordered in grey, white, and black. This Activity Bra from TruLife can be found on the Metro Medical site.

While there are many brands, sizes, and styles available, women who require a mastectomy bra (but find the band size too tight) can always opt for a bra extender. They are also available at most online stores that offer mastectomy products. Then again, there is a choice of mastectomy bras with lacy inserts that look just like the perfect camisole. For the most part, there are many positive aspects of mastectomy bras. It is only a matter of time before you get used to wearing one.

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The Important Aspects of Mastectomy Recovery

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During mastectomy surgery a significant amount of breast tissue is removed in addition to lymph nodes from under the arm. Mastectomy recovery is not a simple process and can take anywhere from three to six weeks. Once the surgically-invasive procedure is complete, compression bandages are applied to the area. Patients are required to wear them for two weeks before switching over to compression garments. In most cases, drainage pipes are inserted to remove fluids and prevent bleeding and swelling of the surgery site.

These pipes are usually left for about two weeks post surgery until all the fluid is drained out. Most patients remain in hospital for an average of 3 days after mastectomy surgery, which may be longer for those who opt for reconstruction as well. The day after mastectomy surgery exercise routines to prevent stiffness in the arm and shoulder are generally advised by the doctor. It is always prudent to discuss exercise routines with the doctor in order to develop a suitable routine.

An integral part of mastectomy recovery is psychological treatment since many women may find the reality of losing a breast to be traumatic. This is most often true in the case of women do not opt for breast reconstruction. Pain medication ought to be taken as prescribed in order to heal faster. It is also recommended to have someone help at home for the first few days since movements are restricted. Most patients require sleeping in a partial sitting position for a few days.

The American Cancer Society offers volunteers under the Reach 2 Recovery program who are mainly women who have gone through the whole experience of a mastectomy. A volunteer can offer valuable information on mastectomy recovery and suggest a list of exercises to help regain mobility and range of motion, which is an important part of the recovery process. For those who have had reconstruction, their plastic surgeon will recommend a different set of exercises.

One of the important stages in recovery is to allow oneself to heal emotionally. The key is to take as much as needed to cope with any issues. However, the bottom line is a mastectomy does not make anyone less of a woman. Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and maintain a nutritious diet.  For more information on breast reconstruction you can see this article and keep reading our breast cancer updates to stay updated!

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Breast Cancer Walks: Creating Awareness and Fundraising

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Cancer is one of the leading causes of death all over the globe with lung cancer and breast cancer the most common forms of the disease. Breast cancer in women is not far behind lung cancer in terms of statistics with hundreds of thousands of women diagnosed with the ailment every year. While the statistics are alarming, it is important to spread awareness of breast cancer, its causes, symptoms, treatment, management, and more.

Thanks to the efforts of a few organizations, we have seen an increase in the number of cancer walks to help patients and families understand breast cancer better. Besides, there is an urgent need for funds to continue research.

As evidence, a breast cancer walk has the potential to help thousands of women and families not only understand and cope with the disease but help raise funds as well. One of the popular breast cancer walks is the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Walks held in multiple cities across the US to spread awareness of breast cancer. The challenging and exciting program features 20-mile a day walk for 3 continuous days. Men and women above age 16 are allowed to participate, with each given the task of raising $2300 in donations.

Participants can register online or by mail along with a registration fee of $90. The 2012 schedule for the breast walk includes Boston from July 27-29, Cleveland from August 3-5, Chicago from August 10-12 and many more cities. Details of dates and locations are available at this site if you’re interested. Donations collected are disbursed by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization to numerous breast cancer charities. Prior to each breast cancer walk participants are provided proper training with the help of a coach.

The organization provides full support during the event with snacks, lunch, drinks, water, first aid, and vans for assistance. Eighty-five percent of the proceeds from the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure Walks are used for breast cancer research and community outreach programs while the rest goes to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. One of the best ways to experience human kindness at its highest level is to join one of these breast cancer walks.

Another breast cancer walk that brings together hundreds of people to spread awareness about breast cancer is the Avon Walk. The walk is held across 9 cities with just 1 goal, which is to make a real difference for people with breast cancer.  Each walk is held for two days over the weekend. The Avon Walk weekend kicks off with April 21-22 in Houston followed by Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Rocky Mountains, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, New York, and Charlotte. For the complete schedule and registration details you can log on to the Avon site for your review.

Avon Walk has collected more than $740 million which is donated to breast cancer programs around the globe. One of the key priorities of the organization is support for the medically undeserved.

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The Benefits of Breast Conserving Therapy

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One of the less radical surgeries in the treatment of breast cancer is a lumpectomy or breast conserving therapy. The procedure is an alternative to mastectomy and double mastectomy and is found to be most effective when followed up with radiation therapy. Studies indicate that younger women under 40 who have undergone breast conserving therapy to remove a tumor in the early stages of breast cancer tend to survive just as long when compared with mastectomy patients and are not likely to have a recurrence.

One of the major benefits of breast conserving therapy is that women can feel safe and secure without the physical and emotional consequences involved with losing a breast. This type of therapy leaves much of the breast intact, where a surgeon only removes the tumor and surrounding breast tissue. This is followed by a few weeks of radiation therapy that kills any cancer cells not removed during lumpectomy.

It is mainly recommended in women in the early stage of breast cancer, where the tumor is not more than 4-5 centimeters in diameter. A doctor may rule out the possibility of breast conserving therapy for those with certain medical conditions or have received radiation therapy on the same breast. This type of therapy does not suit pregnant women although the procedure may be performed in the later stages of pregnancy so that radiation therapy can be administered post delivery.

Surgery involves an incision in the breast area as close to the tumor as possible, following which the tumor and surrounding tissue are removed. Blood from the incision is drained through a rubber tube that is inserted into the skin. During the process the lymph nodes in the underarm may also be sampled especially in patients with invasive breast cancer. Surgery may last from 30 – 45 minutes followed by a few hours of close monitoring by health care professionals in the recovery room. The next phase in breast conserving therapy is radiation therapy, the duration of which will be determined by the doctor.

Patients are usually advised routine physical examinations and mammograms as part of follow up care. For the most part, breast conserving therapy is considered a safe and effective alternative for a majority of women. The need of the hour is for improved patient and physician education so that a larger number of women opt for this type of therapy instead of mastectomy. Detailed information on breast conserving therapy is available at this page if you’re interested.

Stay sharp and educated by reading more of our articles on breast cancer when you’re ready.

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