October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and tomorrow is the third annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day (BRA Day). Launched in 2011 in Toronto, BRA Day is an effort to spread awareness and access to women about post-mastectomy breast reconstruction options.
Nearly 233,000 women will be diagnosed with a form of invasive breast cancer in 2014, according to the American Cancer Society’s estimates. Although federal law requires insurers that provide breast cancer coverage to cover breast reconstruction and prostheses, studies show that less than a quarter of women are informed of their breast reconstruction options. The team behind BRA Day wants to change that.
According to www.bradayusa.org, the goal of BRA Day is to “close the loop on breast cancer.” This means making sure that every woman who receives a breast cancer diagnosis is aware of her options to heal.
BRA Day is a collaborative endeavor, organized by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Plastic Surgery Foundation. In cities across the nation, thousands of plastic surgeons, nurses, breast centers and other members of the medical field organize events like fundraisers, question and answer sessions, lectures and community events for breast cancer patients, their families and friends. Breast implant manufacturers like Allergan and Sientra have signed on as corporate sponsors.
This year’s BRA Day theme is “BRAve Face” to recognize the faces of breast cancer and each patient’s unique journey.
More about Breast Reconstruction
There are three primary approaches to breast reconstruction:
- Implants – uses a saline or silicone implant to recreate the breast mound
- Autologous tissue (flap) procedure – uses the patient’s own tissue (taken from another area of the body) to recreate the breast mound
- Combination of both approaches
Breast reconstruction can be performed at the time of mastectomy, or delayed until the patient has recovered from mastectomy and any other cancer treatments. Patients will consult with their plastic surgeon and oncologist to explore the available options, and decide on a reasonable and safe treatment plan.
Contact Our Breast Surgeon
If you would like more information about breast reconstruction, please contact Burt & Will Plastic Surgery and Laser Centre today to schedule an appointment with our team.