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October 15: BRA Day USA

October 15, 2014 by
BRA day usa ribbon

BRA DAY USA
Closing the Loop on Breast Cancer

It’s a fact: many women eligible for breast reconstruction following cancer surgery are not being properly informed of their options.

The Breast Reconstruction Awareness Campaign–a collaborative effort between the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Plastic Surgery Foundation, plastic surgeons specializing in breast reconstruction, nurse navigators, corporate partners, and breast cancer support groups–hopes to change this.

Statistics show:

  • Eighty-nine percent of women want to see successful breast reconstruction surgery results before undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Less than a quarter (23 percent) of women know the wide range of breast reconstruction options available.
  • Only 22 percent of women are familiar with the quality of outcomes that can be expected.
  • Only 19 percent of women understand that the timing of their treatment for breast cancer and the timing of their decision to undergo reconstruction greatly impacts their options and results.

 

Breast cancer does not discriminate, and while every journey is unique, all breast cancer patients have the right to know their reconstruction options. Click here to meet our team and learn more about our practice, success stories, and natural reconstruction surgery.

Filed Under: Upcoming Events Tagged With: , , , , , ,

BRA Day USA, The SHE Event, and Paint the Town Pink!

October 7, 2013 by

National Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, or BRA Day, will be October 16.

BRA Day promotes awareness and education about post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Most women do not know anything about their options regarding breast reconstruction, and even fewer know about the proper timing of cancer treatment and reconstruction surgery and the variability in outcomes.

BRA Day USA supporters hold local events to help spread awareness of breast cancer treatment and the plastic surgeon’s role in breast reconstruction. Supporters help educate about surgery and financing options. The goal is a broader understanding of the options available to women after mastectomy.

Jewel, the singer and songwriter, is the national spokesperson for BRA Day and has written a song to benefit patients, “Flower.” If you would like to start a BRA Day event in your area, visit the website for a free BRA Day Starter Guide and Marketing/PR Toolkit to help you plan your BRA Day activities. Past BRA Day events include art contests, flash mobs, seminars about reconstruction, and fundraising events to support the BRA fund.

At the end of September, we were sponsors for the SHE Event at the Convention Center. A celebration of everything woman, SHE was three days of events just for her, with plenty of style, food, entertainment, arts and crafts, shopping, and healthy living. For more info, check the SHE Event website here. Events included an opening night party, a fashion show for mothers and daughters, wine and cocktail tastings, and a workshop on how to use color effectively in your home. 

Flower power at the SHE event!

Paint the Town Pink

Our Lowcountry Race for the Cure® affiliate has challenged all area businesses to get creative with the color PINK! Businesses have decorated their storefronts in a pink theme and displayed the Race poster. There is a competition, so be sure to check out the businesses downtown before the prizes are announced on Friday, October 18.

Remember, Saturday, October 19 is the 20th Annual Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure®. Please join us, and for more information visit the Lowcountry affiliate page.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness

BRAdayUSA 2012: A Photo Journey Recap

October 24, 2012 by

We are thrilled with the turn out and success of our BRAdayUSA event held last week aboard the Carolina Belle in Downtown Charleston! The night was filled with great people, food, a little retail therapy and outstanding raffle prizes. The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction team couldn’t be prouder to have hosted our own BRA Day event for the first time this year, or to raise awareness of a cause we so firmly believe in.

If you couldn’t make it this year, or just want to relive the great moments, we’d like to share some of our favorite pictures from the night with you below!

Guest enjoying the hors d’oeuvres and mingling on the top deck!

What a beautiful night spent in the Charleston harbor.

The Premier Design Jewelry booth featuring fabulous baubles.

Some of our guest enjoying a little retail therapy in the cabin.

The Radberry Nails with nail creations to match any mood!

We cannot say thank you enough to all of the wonderful businesses that donated beautiful raffle items for this year’s event. Without you, this event would not have been the success it was! For a complete list of the participating vendors click here

For more pictures from this year’s event make sure to visit our facebook page!

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Join Us for BRA Day USA

October 8, 2012 by

bra dayCome celebrate our first BRA Day USA on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 aboard the dockside Carolina Belle on 10 Wharfside Street, Charleston, SC ! We’re happy to promote Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, or BRA Day, which is an initiative designed to increase education, awareness, and access regarding post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.

Created to inform women of their choices and options for breast reconstruction, the campaign also strives to make reconstructive education and services available to all women, regardless of age, financial status, or race. Studies show that 7 out of 10 women are never informed about post-mastectomy reconstructive surgery, and the statistics are even lower for minorities. However, with BRA Day events appearing all over the world, hopefully those numbers will soon be a thing of the past.

Though BRA Day initially launched in Canada, it quickly became an international campaign and grassroots collaboration between plastic surgeons specializing in breast surgery, nurse navigators, medical device industry representatives, breast cancer patients and families, and breast cancer support groups. Together, these participants coordinate BRA Day events that include question and answer sessions, lectures, flash mobs, fundraising parties, advertising campaigns, and community events.

The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction team couldn’t be prouder to host our own BRA Day event for the first time this year, or to raise awareness of a cause we so firmly believe in. Help spread the word about reconstruction options, and join us for a little retail therapy, some great food, and outstanding prizes. Admission is free but limited to the venue capacity of 250.

To secure your spot, be sure to RSVP to info@naturalbreastreconstruction.com. We’ll see you on the Carolina Belle Wednesday, October 17th!

Filed Under: Upcoming Events Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is October 16: Learn your rights.

October 16, 2019 by

When you’re diagnosed with breast cancer, you are given so much information to digest about your diagnosis and treatment it can, at times, be overwhelming. But it’s not over yet. What about the information you need to decide if you’re going to have breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or lumpectomy? Unfortunately, not every woman is given all of their options in order to make this very important decision.

To help change this, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF) have designated October 16 as the eighth annual BRADay – Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day in hopes to build awareness around breast reconstruction options. According to http://www.breastreconusa.org, less than a quarter (23 percent) of women know all of the breast reconstruction options that are available to them after mastectomy.

“Thanks to the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA), almost every woman is legally entitled to have breast reconstruction after mastectomy,” said Richard M Kline Jr., MD of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction. “Once you are aware of that, you should then understand what your all of your reconstruction options are, including implant based reconstruction, DIEP Flap, GAP Flap, and Profunda Artery

Perforator (PAP) Flap. Each procedure has its advantages and disadvantages so weigh them carefully.”

Once you are given your options for breast reconstruction, you need to decide which one is best for you and you will probably have a ton of questions. Make certain that you are consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon who is willing to answer all of them and share photos of post-operative results. The more informed you are with the answers you receive, the more comfortable you will be with your final decision.

All women who are candidates for breast reconstruction should receive treatment in a safe and timely manner.  Remember that this is your breast cancer journey and you should do what’s right for you. Keep in mind that only 19 percent of women understand that the timing of your treatment for breast cancer and the timing of the decision to undergo reconstruction greatly impacts their options and results.

For more information on Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, visit breastreconusa.org. 

 

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Awareness, In Her Words

New Breast, Now What: Managing Expectations Following Reconstruction

August 29, 2019 by

Let’s face it — no matter what you’re going through your experiences are going to differ from someone else. Others who have had breast cancer, a mastectomy and reconstruction can tell you all about it but your journey will be different than your best friend’s, your neighbor’s or the woman sitting next you in chemo.

However, you are still going to have some expectations of how things may — or may not — happen following your reconstruction. The question is: How do you manage them?

You expect that reconstruction should be easy.

Ann* said that she educated herself immensely throughout her journey, but she was not fully prepared for the magnitude of her reconstruction surgery. She knew it would be a big deal and it would take a few months to recover, but for her, it took multiple surgeries

and her recovery took a lot longer than that. Your body has been through so much and it’s going to take time to heal. Don’t get dejected. Everyone heals at a different pace, but if you’re concerned about how fast your recuperation is going, talk to your doctor.

You expect everything done in one procedure.

Most breast reconstructions require more than one surgery, and, if desired, a nipple tattoo will be added months later to complete the process.

You expect to look the same after reconstruction.

You’re missing your breast and want the new one to look the same. While doctors do what they can to recreate your natural-looking breast, the new one will be a little different. It may end up slightly smaller or higher or rounder or feel different. Expect that there will be changes. It might take time to get used to these changes, but it’s easier to do it if you expect them going in.

You expect that your breast will feel the same.

When Susan had her reconstruction, she expected that the new breast would feel the same as it did before. Instead, it had no feeling at all and made her self-conscious, especially when she was intimate with her spouse. Of course, losing sensation can happen, but fortunately, The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction offers ReSensation™, where donated nerve tissue attaches to a patient’s remaining new tissue in the affected area. Over time, nerve-endings regenerate and feeling returns.

You expect adjustment to be easy.

Jill said there are many things she misses about not having her natural breast. She didn’t expect to feel so down after a procedure that is supposed to help. To help her cope, Jill reminds herself of her goal to stay healthy for herself and her family, including her beautiful grandchildren and she said that she is grateful for everyday she can do that. Over time, she has learned to accept her new breast and enjoy her life.

You expect limited options.

Your doctors should work with you throughout the process. All breast reconstruction options should be discussed to help you to make a smart, informed decision.

Filed Under: Ask the Doctor

Earth Day: How to Reduce Harmful, Cancer-Causing Waste from the Environment

April 17, 2018 by

Earth Day–a day in which we reflect on how amazing our planet is and how we should care for it–is just a few days away on April 22

With the holiday just around the corner, we thought we’d share a few simple ways to keep toxic pollutants out of our air and keep our planet clean so we don’t destroy the earth and endanger the lives of friends and family.

Pick Up Cigarette Butts

Smoking cigarettes releases harmful carcinogens that pollute our air. And these carcinogens affect more than just the people who are smoking the cigarettes.

In fact, Lung.org states that secondhand smoke causes approximately 7,330 deaths from lung cancer every year. If that’s not bad enough, many smokers feel it’s ok to throw their cigarette butts on the ground.

Not only does this make our streets dirty, but it puts small animals–like birds or chipmunks–in harm’s way as they often mistake this waste for food.

Although we advise against it, it’s your personal choice to smoke. But, that personal choice shouldn’t hurt others via air pollution or waste on the ground.

If you’re going to smoke, be responsible. Don’t smoke in public outdoor areas. And certainly, don’t leave your trash on the ground for small animals, or even children, to pick up and eat.

Recycle Plastics

Many people don’t think twice when burning waste, especially when it comes to plastics.

However, the fumes that are emitted into the air can contain dangerous materials like mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxins.

Over time, these harmful chemicals bioaccumulate. This bioaccumulation often occurs in our water and food sources.

Eventually, these pollutants can cause cancer, deformities, reproductive failure, and immune diseases in both humans and animals.

Instead of burning your plastics, be sure to sort them out and recycle them.

To help remind you, grab a special plastic recycling bin and place it in your kitchen. If you have kids, get them involved by decorating the bin as a fun Earth Day activity.

Avoid Barrel Burning

A lot of people burn their own trash in burn barrels because it’s easier than hauling it to the local disposal site or to avoid paying for a waste collection service.

We understand the importance of saving time or pinching a few pennies. However, what you might not understand is that burning your own trash is dangerous and not good for the environment.

In fact, the chemicals that are released while burning trash can…

  • Cause heart disease.
  • Aggravate respiratory ailments such as asthma and emphysema.
  • Cause rashes, nausea, or headaches.

Loose pieces of trash also often fly away and end up as trash that gets buried in the ground.

Last but not least, burn barrels have the potential to cause fires, especially during times of drought. When a forest fire occurs, thousands of animals and plants are destroyed.

In order to protect the earth, we advise that you let garbage disposal specialists take care of your trash for you.

They know how to properly sort trash and safely burn it so that it doesn’t cause major damage to the earth.

What do you do to help keep the earth clean? Let us know in the comments below!

Filed Under: Health and Wellness

Our Surgeons Show Support for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 3, 2017 by

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. And it’s important that we take the time to remember those who have lost their lives to breast cancer, support those who are battling it, and celebrate those who have won their cancer battle.

One of the ways The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction likes to celebrate is to get involved in community events that are focused on breast cancer awareness.

This year we’ve been invited to participate in a series of Breast Cancer symposiums. We are thrilled that two of our surgeons, Dr. Craigie and Dr. Kline, will be included in the panel for these discussions.

All of the Charleston, SC, community is invited to attend these talks, and we encourage you to attend if you are able!

Check out the details below…

East Cooper Breast Cancer Symposium – October 4

The first Breast Cancer educational symposium will be held at the East Cooper Medical Center. The event will take place in the classrooms at the hospital, limiting registration to about 40 people.

During this event, a panel of medical experts will be talking about a variety of breast cancer topics, from treatment and prevention to reconstructive surgeries and life after breast cancer.

The facility will be serving boxed dinners for participants to enjoy during the panel talk, which will take place from 6:00 p.m. to around 8:00 p.m.

Space is limited, so if you’re interested in attending please call the East Cooper Medical Center at (888) 417-1377 to find out how to register for the event.

Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day Talks – October 17, 18, and 19

To celebrate Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day (BRA day), three talks on breast reconstruction will be held over the course of three days—October 17, 18, and 19.

All three events will feature medical professionals and surgeons who are active members of Roper’s breast cancer team. The topics of discussion will focus on reconstructive breast surgery.

A few featured topics include…

  • A presentation on fat grafting.
  • A discussion on Micro Autologous.
  • A talk on lymph node transfer.

The first talk will be held on Tuesday, October 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Roper Mount Pleasant in Classrooms 1, 2, and 3. For more information, click here.

The second talk will be held on Wednesday, October 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Roper Bon Secours St. Francis, Mall Classrooms 1, 2, and 3. For more information, click here.

The third talk will be held on Thursday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Roper Hospital, Irene Dixon Auditorium. For more information, click here.

Please note that the same talks will be given each night, so it’s only necessary to attend one event if you have an interest in going.

On behalf of our entire staff, we wish you a happy National Breast Cancer Awareness month. And to those of you who are currently battling breast cancer, our thoughts are with you.

Do you have any National Breast Cancer Awareness month activities on your schedule that you’re excited about?

Share them with us in the comments below!

Filed Under: Breast Cancer Awareness Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

3 Decadent Dessert Recipes for a Treat Yourself Day

April 25, 2017 by

Every day people go to work, run a business, care of their children, take care of their pets, volunteer, and do many other tiring jobs.

It’s possible you do at least one, or even more, of the things we just mentioned above.

The bottom line is that we know you work hard every day to make ends meet, care for your family, and help those in need. And most of the time, you probably even do it without getting one “thank-you” in return.

Well, we believe it’s time to thank yourself. And one of the best ways to do that is to set aside a time to indulge in a decadent “treat yourself” dessert.

We, at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, love to indulge in a sweet treat from time to time ourselves. So, we thought we’d share 3 delicious recipes that we think you’ll enjoy.

Ready for a much-needed treat yourself day? Give one of the following recipes a try!

Chocolate Lava Cake Recipe

There’s nothing more decadent than a warm, gooey piece of cake filled with rich, molten chocolate lava. If you’re a chocolate lover, this recipe is for you.

The best part, it’s super simple to make. Check it out…

Ingredients:

  • Baking spray, for spraying custard cups
  • 1 stick butter
  • 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate
  • 2 ounces semisweet chocolate
  • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray four custard cups with baking spray and place on a baking sheet.

2. Microwave the butter, bittersweet chocolate and semisweet chocolate in a large bowl on high until the butter is melted, about 1 minute. Whisk until the chocolate is also melted. Stir in the sugar until well blended. Whisk in the eggs and egg yolks, then add the vanilla. Stir in the flour. Divide the mixture among the custard cups.

3. Bake until the sides are firm and the centers are soft, about 13 minutes. Let stand 1 minute. Invert on individual plates while warm and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Recipe Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chocolate-lava-cakes

Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

If you prefer a dessert made from fresh, sweet, and juicy berries, you’re going to want to give this strawberry shortcake recipe a try.

This light, yet decadent dessert, topped with a sweet homemade whipped cream, is so easy to make even a novice chef can do it. Give it a try.

Ingredients:

  • 3 pints fresh strawberries
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup shortening
  • 1 egg
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 2 cups whipped heavy cream

Directions:

1. Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8-inch round cake pan.

3. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.

4. Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.

5. Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with remaining strawberries and cover with the whipped cream.

Recipe Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/8201/strawberry-shortcake/

Vanilla Bean Mousse Recipe

Vanilla lovers, rejoice!

This 4-ingredient recipe is simple and delicious, and leaves you wanting to come back for seconds. And we say, go ahead and grab that extra serving—today is a day to indulge, right? The next time you have a vanilla craving, whip this recipe up…

Ingredients:

  • One vanilla bean, seeds scraped from the pod
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Directions:

1. Whip heavy cream with vanilla bean seeds and 1/3 cup sugar until soft peaks form (err on the side of slightly overwhipped). Set aside.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add 1/3 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

3. Fold together the whipped cream mixture and the egg mixture (I folded the eggs into the whipped cream).

4. Gently pour into individual serving dishes and refrigerate at least six hours, or overnight.

5. Serve!

Recipe Source: http://www.sugarlaws.com/vanilla-bean-mousse

Do you have a favorite decadent dessert recipe? Share it with us in the comments below!

 

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

5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

April 18, 2017 by

On April 22, 192 countries from around the world will all celebrate a very important holiday—Earth Day!

Schools will plant trees, groups will pick up trash in community parks, and thousands of people will pitch in to help clean up our earth in an effort to keep it beautiful for generations to come. This holiday is such a great reminder to all of us about how we must take care of the earth we live on.

We at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction believe we should take care of our earth as if every day is earth day. Which is why, on this holiday, we want to share a few ideas of things you can do to celebrate earth day that will help keep our planet clean and safe.

This Earth Day, and every day after, see if you can put some of these activities into action.

Picnic and Park Cleanup

Every now and then it’s nice to pack up a picnic lunch, head to your favorite park, and enjoy time outside with your friends and family.

The next time you head out for a picnic, we suggest you bring a few trash bags with you.

Before you dig into your delicious picnic basket, spend 15 minutes with your friends or family walking around the park, picking up trash. The more people you have, the quicker you’ll be able to clean up your park.

After you’ve collected your trash, dump it in the nearest trash can, wash up with some hand sanitizer or wet wipes, and then reward yourself for a job well done by diving into your picnic feast.

Take a Bike Trip

There’s nothing more fun than a bike ride on a nice sunny day—except maybe taking a bike ride to grab some ice cream or another one of your favorite treats.

If you live in town and can bike to your local ice cream parlor, celebrate Earth Day with a bike ride to grab a sweet treat.

Taking your bike instead of a car cuts down on gas emissions, which pollute the earth. Plus, you’ll get some good exercise as you ride your bike.

We then encourage you, if you feel safe enough, to take your bike instead of a car wherever you can. We understand this isn’t possible for everyone, but if you live in a community with safe bike paths, give it a try!

Plant a Garden in Your Yard

Planting a garden is a great way to make your yard look beautiful while helping the earth.

Planting a flower garden helps the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds get the food they need from nectar to thrive. More important, flowers provide bees with the energy they need to pollenate our food sources so we can eat fresh produce.

If you’re a tree lover, planting trees is great, too! Adding a few new trees in your backyard is good for increasing oxygen levels as trees take unbreathable CO2 emissions and turn it into oxygen.

Last but not least, you can also plant a veggie garden. The flowers on the vegetables provide bees with food. In return, the bees pollinate the flowers so that your vegetables can bud and grow. Bonus, you get the reward of having fresh organic veggies when you grow your own garden!

Make a Recycle Bin for Your Home

Every day people throw recyclable materials, like plastic, in the trash. And this is a problem because plastic doesn’t decompose.

When nonbiodegradable products are put in landfills, they pollute the earth and can even put animals at risk. If you’ve ever seen pictures of animals caught in plastic soda rings or images of birds and other critters tangled in plastic bags, you know what we’re talking about.

The good news is you can help change this problem.

All you have to do is go out to the store and get a bin. If you’d like, you can decorate it and label it “recycle.” Then all you need to do is throw your plastic containers, cardboard, and glass products in the recycle bin instead of the trash.

Once you’ve collected a full bin of recyclable materials, dump it in your outdoor recycle trash bin, or bring it to your local recycling center.

Turn Trash into Treasure with Repairing and Repurposing

These days, people are quick to throw things in the trash without trying to fix or reuse what they are throwing away.

A great example is a basketball that has a leak. Instead of throwing away the basketball, you may be able to fix it with a simple patch job. When you can repair instead of throwing away your things, you create less waste.

On the other hand, there are things that can’t be repaired or used in the same way again.

One example is an old t-shirt that no longer fits because you’ve grown. Instead of just throwing it in the trash, there are several things you can do with it.

First, you could donate it to someone in need, as long as it’s in good condition.

If it’s not in good condition, consider cutting it up into small cleaning rags and using those pieces of clothes to clean instead of buying a new package of washcloths at the store.

If you use some creativity, there are many ways you can repurpose older things into new things.

Do you do anything special to celebrate Earth Day? Share it with us in the comments below!

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