Archive for

5 Ways to Fight Breast Cancer

Want to join the fight against breast cancer? Here are 5 ways to do a lot o good with a little – or a lot- of your time, your skills and your voice.

1. Volunteer your time

The American Cancer society offers many programs that focus on the physical, social and emotional needs of people facing breast cancer.

• Reach to Recovery – If you have survived breast cancer, you can train to become a Reach to Recovery volunteer who provides education and emotional support to other women – and men- facing a breast cancer diagnosis.
• Look Good Feel Better – This free, community-based service teaches patients beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during cancer treatment. Programs are available in English and Spanish. Look Good Feel Better is a collaboration among the American Cancer Society, the Personal Care products Council, and the Professional Beauty Association/National Cosmetology Association.
• Road To Recovery – Volunteer drivers in this program help cancer patients get to and from treatments. Last year, the American Cancer society matched thousands of patients with volunteer drivers who donated their time and use of their cars.

2. Take part in research

As a breast cancer patient, you can seek out a clinical trial or sign up to be part of a research project that could help those diagnosed with breast cancer in the future. People who have never had cancer can help, too. For example, the American Cancer Society has conducted multiple studies over the past several decades that examine cancer causes, prevention, and survivorship issues in large groups of people. The latest of these is Cancer Prevention Study-3. By sharing information about their lifestyle and health status, participants in these studies give scientists the data they need to battle cancer at the world-wide level.

3. Make your voice heard

Many battles in the fight against breast cancer happen in your local legislature as well as in Washington, DC. The American Cancer Society’s advocacy organization, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), can help you become informed about cancer issues and exercise your rights as a citizen to support the causes you feel passionate about. For example, you can sign a petition to support the federal program that helps ensure all women have access to lifesaving mammograms.

4. Participate in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event raises millions of dollars every year to fund breast cancer research and provide information, services, and access to mammograms for women who need them. You can help by walking in a Making Strides event and raising donations, sponsoring another Making Strides walker, or volunteering your time and talent at an event. Nationwide, nearly 300 walks occur each year to honor breast cancer survivors, raise awareness, and raise money.

5. Take Charge of your health

Although there’s no sure-fire way to prevent breast cancer, certain lifestyle habits are linked to a lower risk of it developing or returning.

• Be physically active. Evidence is growing that regular physical activity helps reduce your breast cancer risk. It also helps keep your weight under control, which may also lower your risk.
• Eat a healthy diet. Studies link a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, poultry, fish, a low-fat dairy products to a reduced breast cancer risk. A healthy diet also helps you stay at a healthy weight.
• If you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink. Research has shown that women who have 2 or more alcoholic drinks daily have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who drink only 1 drink a day or not at all.

#breastcancerawarenessmonth #CDICompresion #selfexamination #PlasticSurgery @CosmeticSurgery #PlasticSurgeon

Breast Reconstruction Using Implants: What are your options?

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION USING IMPLANTS: WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

Your plastic surgeon will talk to you about your breast reconstruction options. There are a number of different options for implants that may be used during your breast reconstruction.

SALINE IMPLANTS

Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. They can be filled with varying amounts of saline which can affect the shape, firmness and feel of the breast.

Should the implant shell leak, a saline implant will collapse and the saline will be absorbed and naturally expelled by the body. Saline implants can feel or look wrinkly in thin patients.

SILICONE IMPLANTS

Silicone implants are filled with an elastic gel. The gel feels and moves much like natural breast tissue.

If the implant leaks, the gel may remain within the implant shell, or may escape into the breast implant pocket. A leaking implant filled with silicone gel may not collapse. If you choose these implants, you may need to visit your plastic surgeon regularly to
make sure the implants are functioning properly.

An ultrasound or MRI screening can assess the condition of breast implants.

SHAPE

FORM STABLE IMPLANTS 

Form stable implants mimic the natural shape of the breast and are shaped like a tear drop. They are thicker at the bottom and tapered towards the top. They are usually filled with a cohesive gel. If they rotate, they may lead to a strange appearance. It is also usually necessary to have a longer incision with these implants.

ROUND IMPLANTS

Round implants have a tendency to make reconstructed breasts appear fuller than form stable implants. They also often will make the breast project out further away from the body.

New high-profile options can lead to even more projection, if that is a concern for you. Because they are the same shape all over, there is less concern about them rotating out of place.

TEXTURE

TEXTURED BREAST IMPLANTS

Textured breast implants allow the scar tissue to stick to the implant, making them less likely to move around inside of the breast and get repositioned.

SMOOTH BREAST IMPLANTS

Smooth breast implants move around freely inside of the breast, which may give more natural movement. These implants also have an increased risk of rippling.

Your plastic surgeon will take into account your wishes and concerns and will choose the right breast reconstruction option for you.

 Note: Implant manufacturers occasionally introduce new styles and types of implants, so there may be additional options available. Whether you choose saline or silicone implants, it is important for you to monitor your breast implants and follow up with your plastic surgeon for appropriate checkups.

Exercise can help to reduce the risk!

Exercise reduces breast cancer risk for women of all body types – even lean women, according to Leslie Bernstein, Ph.D., director of cancer etiology at City of Hope. While the American Cancer Society recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week to manage risk, for some, even 30 minutes per week has been found to be beneficial. #breastcancerawarenessmonth #plasticsurgery #SelfExamination #CDICompression

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month – when you purchase any BRA from Contemporary Design, Inc. in the month of October, a portion of your sale will be donated to Making Strides. Even a little bit can help to make a big difference! 

More than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors live in the United States. They are survivors of the 2^nd most-common cancer in women and survival rates continue to climb due to better treatments and increased screening that finds cancer when they are most treatable.

Most breast cancer (about 85%) occurs in women who have no family history of breast cancer. Having AWARENESS, women can be knowledgeable about warning signs, know the importance of self-exams, treatment options and second options, they are better prepared than ever before confronting a breast cancer diagnosis.

Getting a mammogram can help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer by 30-40% among women ages 40-70. Breast Cancer deaths have been declining since 1990 thanks for early detection, better screening, increased awareness, and new treatment options.

#breastcancerawarenessmonth #CDIcompression#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeons