| In Jacksonville, breast reconstruction can be | | | | most published studies demonstrate no difference in |
| confusing and daunting process. When women are | | | | the time after surgery that chemotherapy is started |
| faced with the diagnosis of breast cancer, they are | | | | whether or not patients undergo immediate |
| taken through a whirlwind of seeing doctors and | | | | reconstruction. |
| receiving tests aimed at defeating the cancer. They | | | | 4. Does immediate breast reconstruction increase the |
| receive a whole pile of information from their | | | | chance of breast cancer recurrence? |
| radiation oncologist, their medical oncologist, their | | | | Immediate reconstruction has no difference in local |
| breast radiologist, and their breast surgeon. All the | | | | cancer recurrence from mastectomy alone? |
| focus is on eliminating the cancer. Our detection and | | | | 5. Does immediate reconstruction decrease survival? |
| treatment of cancer has improved over the years | | | | Patients undergoing mastectomy alone when |
| and women are living through the diagnosis of breast | | | | compared to those receiving immediate breast |
| cancer, but what about after the cancer is gone. | | | | reconstruction have no difference in the overall |
| What are the options for women who have | | | | survival. Therefore, immediate breast reconstruction |
| undergone a mastectomy or women who had a | | | | is oncologically safe and effective. |
| lumpectomy, but now have breast deformity? Many | | | | 6. If she needs radiation therapy and is not a |
| of these women had options for reconstruction | | | | candidate for immediate breast reconstruction, are |
| performed at the same time as the mastectomy, | | | | there options that can hep minimize the scarring? |
| but the focus was on killing the cancer. So next time | | | | Traditionally, all of patients requiring radiation were |
| you or someone you know has been diagnosed with | | | | not offered immediate reconstruction. However, this |
| breast cancer, please take a moment to reflect | | | | paradigm is shifting and by working with the radiation |
| about the post-cancer needs of the patient. Ask | | | | oncologist we can place temporary tissue expanders |
| these questions. | | | | to help keep all the original skin of the breast. Then |
| 1. Is she a candidate for immediate breast | | | | after your radiation therapy is complete, we can |
| reconstruction? (Reconstruction performed at the | | | | replace the expander with your own tissue with or |
| time of the mastectomy) | | | | without an implant to complete your reconstruction. |
| Patients with early stages of breast cancer who are | | | | This process is called delayed-immediate breast |
| not likely to receive radiation therapy are candidates | | | | reconstruction and is a mix between immediate and |
| for immediate reconstruction? | | | | delayed reconstruction so that we can maintain all |
| 2. What are the advantages of immediate breast | | | | your original skin and minimize scarring. |
| reconstruction? | | | | 7. What are the latest options for breast |
| Patients have less scarring and better cosmetic | | | | reconstruction? |
| outcomes when the reconstruction is performed at | | | | The options for breast reconstruction are usually |
| the time of mastectomy. In addition, there is a | | | | categorized by implant or autologous (using your |
| proven psychologic benefit for patients undergoing | | | | body's own tissue) based reconstruction. Implant |
| immediate breast reconstruction? | | | | reconstruction involves the use of a tissue expander |
| 3. Does immediate reconstruction delay other | | | | (an inflatable implant) to recruit more skin before |
| necessary treatments like chemotherapy? | | | | finally replacing the temporary expander with a |
| Although some patients may have wound still to heal, | | | | silicone or saline implant. |