Archives for June 2019

Ask the Doctor: Q&A

woman sitting looking out in the distance in front of a lake

Q: I see post bariatric surgery plastic surgery referenced on your site. I didn’t realize you also offered these procedures. Which doctor cares for this? Thank you for any information you can provide.

Thanks,

M

A: Hello, M.

Currently, 90% of our activity is microvascular breast reconstruction. I did a lot of post-bariatric surgery some years ago, which is where the pictures came from. We stopped actively promoting this service (despite leaving the pictures up) because: 1) Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t usually pay for it, and 2) Most patients can’t afford to pay for it themselves. The surgeries are fairly large and serious, and as a rule, complications can be serious and patients usually need to stay in the hospital at least one night. If you can find a surgeon close to you with an express interest in performing this surgery, that would probably be your best bet. If you can’t find one and you determine we are your closest reasonable option, I would be happy to see you to discuss your options.

Thanks for your great question!

Sincerely,

Richard M. Kline, Jr., MD

Cool For Summer

Healthy lifestyle concept, clean food good health dietary in heart dish with sporty gym aerobic body exercise workout training class equipment, weight scale and sports shoes in fitness center

Making healthy changes at any point in your life can help you reduce your risk of a recurrence or new cancer, prevent additional health issues and keep your body strong as it recovers from treatment and surgery.

Consider these important 6 healthy living choices:

  1. Drop Excess Weight
    Those love handles might sound cute, but carrying around excess pounds can increase your risks for a variety of health issues, including heart disease and high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the good news is that even a modest weight loss, such as 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight, can produce health benefits, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars.

Losing weight prior to your breast reconstruction might also help to prevent surgical complications. One study published in the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery found that obese women were 2.29 times more likely to experience surgical complications.

Dropping pounds should be done gradually at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week.

  1. Eat Healthier
    If you skip breakfast, love sweets, douse your popcorn in a salt and butter, enjoy a double cheeseburger every day for lunch, and haven’t had a veggie pass your lips in years, you might want to consider a diet overhaul. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, keep your bones and muscles strong and help keep your weight down.

Start eating healthier by making small changes. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, you should incorporate at least six of these eight goals into your diet:

  • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
  • Make half your grains whole grains.
  • Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk.
  • Choose a variety of lean protein foods.
  • Compare sodium in foods.
  • Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
  • Eat some seafood.
  1. Get Moving
    Cancer treatment can tire out your body, but it’s important to get off that couch and get moving! It doesn’t matter how you do it either — whether it’s dancing to Usher’s latest tunes, walking a treadmill, hiking, or joining a weekly Zumba class, find something you enjoy and do it. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week. Add moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity (such as resistance or weights) at least 2 days per week.

Exercise helps to lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia and Alzheimer’s and several types of cancer. It also helps with depression and anxiety.

  1. Stop Smoking
    According to the American Cancer Society, about half of all Americans who keep smoking will die because of the habit. Each year more than 480,000 people in the United States die from illnesses related to tobacco use. This means each year smoking causes about 1 out of 5 deaths in the US More importantly, research shows that smokers have higher rates of wound complications after surgery, including healing after plastic surgery and breast reconstruction.

It’s hard to do, but quitting smoking can improve your health almost immediately. Quitting lowers your blood pressure and heart rate almost immediately and your risk of a heart attack declines within 24 hours.

  1. See Your Doctor
    You’re already seeing your doctor to treat your breast cancer, but have you had a general physical or other annual tests such as a colonoscopy or bloodwork? Staying on top of your health will help reduce the risks of getting sick and prevent other illnesses.

Ask the Doctor: Q&A

Woman walking on beach

Q: I am an eight-year breast cancer survivor. I had a great breast doctor but my plastic surgeon botched my right breast. No implants – it was a latissimus dorsi reconstruction. My right breast is flat as can be, and I do suffer from scar tissue pain. I can be doing the simplest of things that should not cause pain, but the pain is excruciating. My current breast doctor tells me I will have to live with it. I’m so glad I didn’t have a procedure on my left breast. Do you ever come across patients with painful scar tissue? Would reconstruction repair the tissue? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thank you for taking the time to read my note. It’s surgeons such as yourselves who give people hope!

GOD BLESS

 

A: Greetings!

I’m sorry you are having trouble with your reconstruction, both appearance and comfort-wise.

The latissimus flap is not commonly large enough to be able to provide an acceptable breast mound by itself. Traditionally, a breast implant is placed under the flap to provide increased bulk and projection. We also have found that sequentially grafting a patient’s own fat into the latissimus and surrounding tissue can sometimes provide an adequate breast mound, thus avoiding potential complications associated with breast implants.

Pain after breast reconstruction is fortunately less common after using your own tissue than after using implants, but it still can occur. It often can be difficult to determine what is causing the pain, but many times measures can be taken after careful assessment to improve the situation.

I would be happy to chat with you by phone in more detail about your situation, if you wish. Please let us know what we can do to help.

Sincerely,

Richard M. Kline, Jr., MD

Sun Safety Tips

 

Close up on woman applying sun cream on her arm with a spray at the beach on a warm, sunny day. Sunscreen protection, skin cancer concept

The warmer, sunnier weather is calling you to the great outdoors, but breast cancer survivors need to take extra special precautions to care for their skin. Why? Both chemotherapy and radiation treatments can make the skin more sensitive to the sun up to two years after treatment is over.

Before you head to the park or to the beach, It’s important for breast cancer patients to follow these tips to stay safe in the sun:

  1. Wait Just a Bit

If you just finished radiation therapy, give your skin a little time to heal before enjoying the sun. It is typically recommended that radiation patients wait a few weeks before venturing out. When exposed to the sun, radiation therapy can cause something called ‘radiation recall’, where the treated area will “remember” that it was exposed to radiation and become red, inflamed, and tender again.

  1. Use Sunscreen

According to the American Cancer Society, sunscreen for breast cancer survivors should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. The SPF number is the level of protection that the sunscreen provides against UVB rays. Keep in mind that no sunscreen completely protects you, so you should combine other safety tips to increase your chance of protection.

Not sure what you should use? Every breast cancer patient is different, so talk to your oncologist and your radiation oncologist to see what they want you to use. If you have already had a negative reaction to the sun or are sensitive to certain sunscreen ingredients, they may have a different product recommendation.

  1. Cover Up

The area of your breasts that received radiation therapy should be protected from the sun at all times with clothing and sunblock, especially if the area is already red or ‘burned’ because of treatments. It’s also important to keep your surgical scars covered.

  1. Sit in the Shade

Unless your doctor specifically tells you to not go out in the sun at all, you should limit your sun exposure during the times that the ultraviolet or UV rays are the strongest. This is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It’s best to enjoy the early morning or later evening sun.

  1. Protect Your Scalp

Chemotherapy causes hair loss, so if your hair is thinning or if you are completely bald, make sure you wear a hat or apply sunscreen to your scalp – and don’t forget your ears too!

  1. Don’t Get Overheated

Some chemotherapy medications can cause your body to become overheated in the sun, so consider wearing a wide brim hat or a hat that is made from natural fabrics so your scalp can ‘breathe.’

Don’t use tanning beds: They employ the same dangerous ultraviolet rays that the sun emits.

You can certainly enjoy the warm summer outdoors without baking in the sun. Remember, you just finished treatment and need to take it easy and keep your body healthy.