Posts Comments

You are here: Home / 2015 / Archives for January 2015

Archives for January 2015

Ask The Doctor-Is my inward nipple fixable?

January 30, 2015 by

pink flowerThis week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: 12 years ago, my cancer left me with a inward nipple, and a surgeon is telling me nothing can be done. I find that in today’s medical world that can’t be true. There must be someone who can fix it or make me one. Just wondering. Thank you!

Answer: The procedure to repair a retracted nipple depends on the reason the nipple is retracted. If you have had lumpectomy and radiation and the retraction developed after scar developed, then a procedure to reconstruct the breast may be the best approach. Do you happen to have a breast implant? Other causes are less involved to fix.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Power and Science of Thinking Positive

January 27, 2015 by

we can do itDo you believe that thinking positive can actually influence an outcome, or do you believe it’s a bunch of bologna? If you believe the latter, you may want to reconsider.

Barbara Fredrickson, a positive psychology researcher at the University of North Carolina, recently conducted studies showing how positive emotions affect the inner workings of the participants’ brains.

Her conclusion: when we are engulfed in negativity, our mind shuts down to considering other options.

What Is Positive Thinking?

According to Remez Sasson, founder of Success Consciousness, positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and expects positive results. In other words, if you think positively, positive things will occur.

Both positive and negative thinking are contagious, both for the individual and those around them. Adapting this positive outlook means making a lifestyle change to rewire the way your brain looks at events.

Negative Thoughts vs. Positive Thoughts

Barbara Fredrickson’s studies explain that our minds respond differently to negative thoughts and positive thoughts. Positive thoughts lead to seeing more possibilities and opportunities in a given situation.

On the other hand, negative emotions close and narrow what you’re able to focus on. Your mind shuts down to the world around you and limits the possibilities you’re able to see.

How Does It Work?

Pretend you have an important presentation to give in front of your superiors or a potential client. This speech could go one of two ways:

Scenario 1: You work yourself up into such a nervous frenzy that your mind starts to think of all the possible mistakes and embarrassing things that could unveil during your presentation. Once you finally begin your speech, your mind is not focused, your body is shutting down from nerves, and you end up blowing your presentation. In other words, you willed yourself to fail.

Scenario 2: You’ve been preparing and practicing for this presentation all week, you know you’re going to nail it, and you keep telling yourself you’re going to do great. When it comes time to give your speech, your mind is clear, your body is calm but energized, and you hit it out of the park! In other words, your positivity and self-confidence led to your success.

Share your positivity! Tell us what you’re feeling positive about!

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ask The Doctor-Will surgery help my scar tissue?

January 23, 2015 by

orange flowerThis week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: I have scar tissue in my right breast from a horse bite that occurred when I was about 11 years old. I am now 43. Each year it has caused doctors to require repeated mammograms , ultrasounds, and non MRI’s. Now they are recommending I have a biopsy or have the scar tissue removed. I was wondering about having it removed by a plastic surgeon to decrease scaring. Do you think that is possible?

Answer: Sorry you are having problems with your scar. Did you have surgery after your horse bite accident? Did the injury lead to your breasts being uneven? I think you have a very good question and its possible that a plastic surgeon could help. Because of the nature of the injury it is possible that the scar could be removed and the breast reshaped in the process to allow healing to occur in a more favorable way and create a more favorable scar. I would need more information to give you more specific answers. I would be glad to see you in consult or if that’s not convenient, have my office contact you for more specific details and possible photos. Let me know. Thank you for your question.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , , , ,

Top 3 Ways to Bring More Balance into Your Busy Life

January 20, 2015 by

balancing scaleMaintaining work-life balance isn’t easy. And with new technology and work expectations—well, it’s even more of a challenge.

In the world of being plugged-in 24/7, it is easy to forget the importance of separating our work life and our personal life—let alone know how to juggle the two worlds.

Sound familiar? Not to worry—we’ve got your back. We’ve compiled a list of ways to help you bring more balance into your busy life (and some inspirational quotes to get you through the toughest days):

 

“Do less. Be more.”—Elizabeth Grace Saunders 

If you’re like us, you often make more work for yourself than you have to. You know how it goes: mindlessly wasting time browsing social media, chatting away on personal phone calls, and surfing the web in search of the next handbag (or cute cat video—come on, you know you do it!).

If you pay more attention to where you are spending your time, you might be able to spend more of it doing the things you enjoy.

Our tip: For one day, write down everything you do. See where you are wasting time.

“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management.”—Betsy Jacobson

Work isn’t going to set boundaries for you. You have to set them for yourself.

Scheduling your own downtime in your calendar will help keep the two worlds of work and life separate. Spending time with your friends, family, or significant other is imperative to your overall happiness. Even so, it’s hard to keep in mind when the workload gets heavy.

Our tip: Create a calendar with both your work and fun commitments. This way, you are able to see how to balance both more carefully, and it will keep you mindful of the importance of downtime.

“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.”—Jim Rohn

Keep in mind that, at the end of the day, you are in charge of your own life. You make your own priorities. Sometimes, even when you’re “off the clock,” you still have a million things to do at home.

A great way to balance your week is to make a list of priorities, especially at home. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with an endless amount of chores, make a list at the beginning of the week of what needs to get done and when. Stick to the list, and enjoy taking some time to relax. Remember, without downtime, it’s easy to burn out. High stress, both at work and home, can negatively affect your health.

Our tip: On Sundays, make a list of priorities for the week of what you’d like to accomplish, and decide on the days you plan to complete each task. This way, you spread out the tasks and leave some time each day for doing something you enjoy.

Have suggestions on work-life balance? Share them on our Facebook Page! 

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ask The Doctor-Should I have a preventative mastectomy?

January 16, 2015 by

purple flowerThis week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: I am 60. I have had a core bio in right breast, and my maternal aunt had breast cancer. My left breast is became two sizes bigger than right, and I have fibefib. Cystic diseases. Last year my mamo showed no cancer, but I am about a 36 c in right breast and 38c in left. It’s painful. Should I be proactive and have both removed since already in right? I have had a core bio for two lumps showed benign. Thanks

Answer: Thanks for your question. Women who are at an increased risk for breast cancer and/or who have difficult breasts to screen for breast cancer do sometimes consider preventive mastectomies. Certainly not every woman in your situation would do that. In order for you to make a decision you should discuss your specific situation with a breast surgical oncologist. They could give you more specifics about your risks. Other considerations are quality of life issues. Having to undergo frequent biopsies or repeat imaging are all reasons some of our patients tell us they have preventive mastectomies. Finally, the options for breast reconstruction available to you can make a difference to you in your decision. We can give you more specifics about those options if you like. We have all our patients discuss their risks with one of the breast oncologist and geneticists we work with. Let me know if I can help in any way.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Make 2015 Your Year

January 13, 2015 by

apple with measuring tape around itOkay, dear reader, we’re taking 2015 by the horns. Sure, we may have had one too many Christmas cookies over the past month (okay, maybe the whole box), but we’re declaring that it all stops NOW!

Let’s get ourselves looking and feeling better in 2015. What do you say—you in? Really, how great would it be to be prepared for beach season before it rears its ugly head?

We’re in this with you. So let’s come up with some strategies to help us reach our goals…

Portion Control

Keeping portions to a smaller serving size can be tough, especially when restaurants provide heaping helpings. The best method to prevent overindulging: plan ahead. Before you head to a restaurant, check out their menu online and decide ahead of time what you are going to order to prevent last minute temptations.

Another tip is to ask for a box when your meal comes to the table, and immediately put half of it in a to-go box for your next meal. If you have trouble oversnacking at work, put your meals and snacks in presized containers.

Stay Hydrated

We cannot reiterate this one enough. Drinking water has been proven to help weight loss efforts. Set consumption goals to remind yourself to keep the aqua coming. Drink 2 cups of water before each meal to fill you up, or drink out of a 2-liter bottle to help you keep track! In addition, drinking tea also helps you consume H2O with some added health benefits.

Rid Your Body of Sugar

One of the best things you can do for your health is reducing or avoiding sugar. Your body does not need sugar in the form we typically eat it.

Yes, your body uses glucose, but any carbohydrate you eat is broken down to glucose, so vegetables and grains give you everything you need. Simple carbs like candy, cola, and fruit juice are unnecessary and cause weight gain, sluggishness, and many other problems in the body.

Eliminating sugar from your diet will help you sleep better, feel more energized, experience happier moods, and flaunt better skin and hair—the only thing to lose are the pounds!

Talk to a Professional

It’s okay to ask for help! Take your concerns to a dietitian, who has the medical background to help you make the most successful plan for your overall wellness. Working with a professional will help you learn why you should and shouldn’t eat certain food. It also helps to have someone to check in with about your weight loss.

Do you have any weight loss success stories? We want to hear how you did it! Comment below:

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ask The Doctor-Is the DIEP flap procedure an option for me?

January 9, 2015 by

pink flowerThis week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question:I had a bilateral mastectomy with expanders in October of 2013, followed by chemo and radiation. It is now time for my exchange surgery, but I really want the DIEP flap procedure. My plastic surgeon is hesitant to do the surgery. Is a flap procedure even an option at this point?

Answer: Thanks for your question. Yes it is possible and we frequently do replace expanders or implants with DIEP flaps. In other words the extra skin and fatty tissue from the tummy area. Some people may not have extra tissue to use from their tummy or may have had previous surgery (tummy tuck). In that situation we can usually find extra fatty tissue from another area without removing any of your important muscles. If your surgeon does not think you should do that, ask why. There may be a good reason. You can always get a second opinion if you like. Let me know if you would like more information. Thanks again.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Stop Smoking: Make It More Than a New Year’s Resolution

January 6, 2015 by

breaking a cigaretteUnfortunately, we can’t live in our parent’s blissful ignorance anymore. And it’s  not news that smoking is bad for your health.

If you are a smoker, quitting isn’t as easy as cutting out sugar or making a commitment to walk three times a week.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of realistic ways to stop smoking. We aren’t talking quitting as a New Year’s resolution. We mean making an actual lifestyle change. So if you wake up on February 2and decide that is the day to quit, don’t let the fact that the New Year has passed stop you from making this change in your life.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Quitting smoking can be overwhelming because nicotine is incredibly addictive. Being able to wean yourself off nicotine, without the harmful effects from carcinogens, can help raise your chances of not giving up on day one. Using patches or gum helps you fight cravings by getting a measured amount of nicotine. Both nicotine replacements have different dosages, so you can slowly cut back the amount of nicotine intake.

Prescription Drugs

There are many prescription drugs that can help you quit smoking. Some of the prescriptions are used along with nicotine replacement therapy, while others you need to start taking before “Quit Day.” These drugs help counteract certain chemicals in the brain to help ease cravings. As with all prescription medications, make sure you consult your doctor and are aware of any potential side effects.

Write It Down

Write down all of the reasons you want to quit smoking on notecards or on your phone. Is it for your children or to stop having to hide your habit? Anytime you’re feeling particularly weak, bring that list out. Remind yourself there is a good reason why you’re doing this, and that in time it will get easier.

Acupuncture

You may know that acupuncture is often used to relieve medical ailments, but did you know it also might help you kick the habit? Treatments focus on jitters, cravings, irritability, and restlessness—all symptoms that commonly plague people who are trying to cease smoking.

Make a Plan

Do you know when you’re most likely to smoke? Make a plan to do something else during the times you would usually light up. Is it after dinner? Try making a hot cup of green tea instead. Is it after work? Go for a walk. Is it with a cup of coffee? Take a cup of coffee with you on a walk. Other methods that may help are to keep your mouth busy: chew gum, snack on sunflower seeds, always have a drink like flavored water or tea.

Read more about how smoking may increase breast cancer risk.

 

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Ask The Doctor-I am 52 years old and thinking about a bilateral DIEP flap surgery.

January 2, 2015 by

white flowerThis week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: I am 52 years old and thinking about a bilateral DIEP flap.

Answer: Thank you for your question. Have you already had a bilateral mastectomy? Do you have a specific question regarding the surgery? If you are thinking about a bilateral DIEP you have been considering options for breast reconstruction. This surgery can be done at the time of mastectomy or it can be done any time after. Also it can be appropriate for patients who have had breast cancer or who are at high risk for breast cancer. We would be glad to contact you for more specific information if you like.  

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,