Our resident Canadian Geese are back and are expecting!

 

It’s  “Baby Watch” 2016 at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction!!!

 

 Meet Edith and Archie. These beautiful geese reside outside of our Mt. Pleasant office.  Edith began resting on her nest just a few weeks ago with her mate Archie right by her side protecting her and their eggs from harm.  Believe me, Archie will let you know when you get too close for comfort.  This picture was taken while he was warning me!    

We’ll keep an eye out on them over the next few months and share their progress aloing with lots of photos once the babies arrive.    

Keep watching & Happy Spring!!  

 

Gail

Our residents Edith and Archie                         archie goose

October 15: BRA Day USA

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.

10 Breast Cancer Fundraising Ideas

<alt="fundraising"/>If you’re looking for a different approach to raising awareness for breast cancer, we’ve got you covered. The list of ideas below will help you get interested people to participate in a worthy and very important cause. Use these tips for yourself, or forward this list to your favorite business, colleagues, loved ones, and friends, and get them involved in the fight against breast cancer.

 

  1. Get active. You will see plenty of 5k runs and walkathons for breast cancer, but those are not the only physical activities you can participate in or host to support this cause. You can also swim, play tennis, or even golf for breast cancer. The more people who support breast cancer, the more money your community can raise for research.
  2.  Dress up. Get your office to wear pink for an entire week. Surely this will get the attention of clients, guests, and coworkers. It also gives a great chance for you to explain why’re everyone has pink clothes on, allowing you the perfect opportunity to ask for a donation. Make sure to post photos of your group on social media, in company emails, etc. to spread the word. Maybe your office isn’t onboard with this idea? Do this with a group of friends.
  3.  Check Meetup. Meetup is a website for people to form groups and participate in face-to-face activities. Check Meetup for breast cancer fundraising activities in your city, and get involved with your community.
  4.  Have a yard sale. Have a lot of stuff piling in your garage? With a yard sale, you can get rid of things you don’t need, make money, and forward all profits to a breast cancer organization of your choice. Plus, people are more likely to buy your stuff when you support a fantastic cause!
  5.  Create fliers. Fliers are great way to raise awareness. You can make thousands of them for just pennies, and you’ll reap the rewards in a big way. You can use fliers to show that your business or organization supports the fight against breast cancer, and you can promote upcoming awareness events, 5Ks, walks, and fundraisers.
  6.  Organize with your local Chamber of Commerce. Create partnerships with other local businesses and groups who support breast cancer. Doing so will broaden your message to a larger group of people. Referrals a great way to get people to donate.
  7.  Have a car wash. Get your neighborhood together and get the word out about a donation based car wash. Offer to wash cars for free and mention that you’re raising funds for breast cancer research. People will love the idea of having a clean car, and they’ll thank you for your commitment to raising awareness for breast cancer and donate to your cause.
  8.  Volunteer. You don’t have to start your own fundraising movement—there are many fundraising organizations out there who need help and lots of volunteers! This is something to keep in mind if you’re struggling to come up with an original breast cancer fundraising strategy, or you don’t have the time to create your own event.
  9.  Have a BBQ. Ask a local BBQ place to offer food at a significant discount in support of breast cancer. Tell them you will organize the event, and they just need to bring the grub! They’ll be able to support a good cause, you’ll raise money, and they now have new customers who have tasted their food. They get free marketing and PR for partnering with you at your event.
  10.  Create a trend. Surely you’ve seen the popular ice bucket challenge happening right now. The sensation has currently raised $44 million dollars for ALS! You can create a similar trend for breast cancer. If it catches on, you could be responsible for millions of dollars for breast cancer research!

The most important thing to keep in mind when starting a fundraiser is to take action. Someone has to get out there and get the ball rolling—it could be you.

 

Photo Credit: HowardLake

September: Charleston Events Roundup

<alt="arial act"/>The year is almost over! Time goes by quickly when you’re having fun, right? Thanks to these exciting Charleston events for September, it will be October before you know it. Don’t miss these opportunities to have some fun!

 

September 1: Beating the Surf

Join Capt. Ben Floyd at 6:30 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant shop, as he covers everything from rod & reel selection, to bait and tackle, to which tides work in your favor. Surf Fishing is a great way to get anglers of all ages catching fish. Whether it’s bull redfish or bull sharks, the surf has it all.

Come enjoy a few drinks, learn some new skills and enjoy 10% off everything during the night of the seminar.

To register, please e-mail jj@thecharlestonangler.com. For more information, please visit this website.  

 

September 2, 7, 9, 14, 17, 21, 26, 30: Sherlock Holmes and the Charleston History Mystery

Join Sherlock Holmes for an Historical City Tour truly for everyone — where without ever leaving your theatre seat you will explore Charleston’s past, present, and … other worlds. Should you choose to volunteer, you may actually participate and play a victim, villain, or vile vision in The Case of Sherlock Holmes and the Charleston History Mystery!

$24 Adults, $22 College/Military, $15 Children 12 and Under.

Please see the website for showtimes and to purchase tickets.

 

September – Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday: Evenings in the Market

The weekly event, designed to showcase local artists, food vendors and designers, is from 6:30-10:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from March through December.

For additional information, please visit this website.  

 

September 6: Downward Facing RiverDog

Come and enjoy some yoga at the Joe! International Yoga Instructor, Kathryn Budig, will be at the Joe teaching some yoga moves on the field. Gates open at 9 a.m. Yoga on the field is from 10-11 a.m. There will be free parking, live music by Estee Gabay and a cash bar featuring mimosas and bloody marys. All levels are welcome. The class will be playful and enjoyable for all. $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

For more information, please visit the website.  

 

September – Every Wednesday: Fall Wine Strolls

Sip and stroll in a different garden location each week while sampling old and new world wines. The season ends with a Masquerade Wine Stroll Finale on October 29!

Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: $20/online, $25/gate ($5 off for Foundation members).

For more information, please visit the website.

 

September 14: Dance with Dragons

The 2nd Annual Dance with Dragons offers a beautiful evening of outdoor circus arts performances including hooping, acroyoga, serial silks, slacklining, and juggling playshops. Spectate, play, perform, gawk, share, and make new friends. You might be tempted to run away to the circus afterwards!

This year’s even benefits Dragon Boat Charleston, a non-profit that promotes physical and mental wellness among local cancer survivors and their community.

4:00 p.m .- 8:00 p.m.

$5 for adults, kids attend free.

For more information, please visit the website.

 

September 20: 2014 Walk to End Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Held annually in more than 650 communities nationwide, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. The Charleston walk will take place at the Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina.

Registration at 8:00 a.m. | Ceremony at 8:45 a. m. | Walk at 9:00 a.m.

Route Length: 3 miles.

To register, please visit the website.

 

September 19-21: 7th Annual Autumn on the Ashley

The Tri-County Master Gardeners will host the 7th Annual Autumn on the Ashley open-air craft fair Sept. 19-21 at Magnolia. More than 50 vendors are expected to exhibit wood cravings, paintings, textiles, pottery, jewelry, culinary oils, and photographs. The Philip Simmons Artists Blacksmith Guild will demonstrate their craft while dancers entertain the crowd.

Autumn on the Ashley, which is free to the public, opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. A $100 vendor fee will be charged for a vendor booth space to display handcrafted items. No retail items will be allowed. Vendors are responsible for their own pop-up tent, tables and chairs. Vendors who require electricity are encouraged to register early. Eight spaces with electricity are available.

The Master Gardeners will answer gardening questions and provide soil samples. The cost for a soil analysis is $6 each. Call 843-722-5940 to get tips on how to collect a sample. Plants and gardening books will be on sale.

For information and to reserve a booth, call Magnolia’s operations manager Mary Ann Johnson at 843-571-1266, extension 229. You can also visit this website.

Ask the Doctor: What Are My Options For Post-Op Reconstruction Using Implants?

<alt="pink dahlia"/>This week, Dr. James Craigie of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: I’m 42 years old, and I have a surgery this month for breast reconstruction. Due to my genetic history, a plastic surgeon will be performing a double mastectomy. I want to know what my options are for post-op reconstruction? Thanks.

Answer: Hi — Thanks for the information about your planned surgery. If you have requested using your own tissue and were told that was not a good option for you, then you certainly can get a second opinion. You stated that your mastectomies were for preventive reasons, which gives you the time to consider all possibilities. Before having surgery you should feel good about your decision and be confident you know all your options. You have excellent surgeons and I know you will do well.

One advantage of using an implant is that you don’t require an incision anywhere else on your body in order to donate the tissue to make the new breasts. Using your own tissue requires a longer recovery and more healing. The donor area ends up healing with a scar. If you don’t need a tummy tuck or have “excess” tissue in your thighs or buttocks then you may not want a scar in these areas. You should also know that it is not necessary to sacrifice any of your muscles in order to use your own tissue. Finally, it is important to know that if you have implant reconstruction and it does not work out you can still use your own tissue later–even years later! Most likely it will work out and you will have an excellent result and speedy recovery. I hope this has helped. Let us know if you have more unanswered questions. If you would like a second opinion, you could set up an appointment in our office, or we could also consult over the phone if you cannot make the trip to Charleston.

Dr. James Craigie
Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

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

Is It Time to Give Up Soda?

Yes, it is, for several reasons we’ll outline below, and we’ll also give you some tips for giving it up. Coke, Pepsi, soda, pop, tonic…whatever you want to call it, you need to kick it to the curb. Get ready to enjoy life without soda pop!

It’s empty calories.

If you drink regular soda, you’re getting around 150 calories that do nothing for your body. In contrast, drinking water, herbal tea, or even sparkling water diluted with juice will save you at least 100 calories, if not more. Do the math if you drink three or four sodas a day.

Diet soda is no better. Artificial sweeteners confuse your body into thinking it’s getting sugar, which triggers an insulin release, which can lead to weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

Regular pop contains high fructose corn syrup.

This stuff is poison. No one should be taking it in for any reason. Contrary to what the corn industry tells you, HFCS is not metabolized like other sugars. It’s unnatural, and the fructose goes right to the liver, causing fatty liver. It also causes blood sugar spikes, and contains contaminants such as mercury. Any independent nutrition expert will recommend against HFCS, and so do we.

Diet pop gives you an excuse to eat more.

When you’re taking in no beverage calories, you may rationalize eating more, which leads to weight gain.

How to stop pop…

Try some of these steps to reduce your soda intake and start drinking more healthy beverages.

  • Take it slowly. Don’t expect to quit soda cold turkey. Reduce gradually over several months if you drink more than two or three a day. Try reducing by one pop a day for two weeks, then cut out one more pop a day for three weeks, etc. Make a schedule that works for you.
  • Keep substitutes handy, such as flavored water, sparkling water, rice or almond milk, and fruit juice. While these drinks aren’t ideal because they contain sugar, they’re a good bridge from pop.
  • Just don’t buy it. If it’s not in your house, you can’t drink it. Make it hard to get soda. If you have to go out and buy it, you may be less likely to drink it.
  • Don’t allow your family to bring it into the house, either. They don’t need it either. It doesn’t matter if the kids are young—now is the time to break the soda habit.
  • While you may have an initial withdrawal that may not be fun, after a month of no soda pop, you’ll look and feel better. Keep reminding yourself of that when the pop urge strikes.

What’s your best tip to give up soda?

Have You Had Your Mammogram?

diep and mammogramThe mammogram, or x-ray of the breast and surrounding tissue, is the most effective diagnostic tool for breast cancer that we have today. All women should receive annual mammograms beginning at age 40, or earlier with a family history of breast cancer.

According to www.breastcancer.org, mammograms have been shown to lower the risk of death from breast cancer by 35% in women over age 50. It also means that more women who are found to have breast cancer early can keep their breasts.

In 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force questioned the need for mammograms in women under 50, and they recommended that screening mammograms begin at 50 instead of 40. Several prominent groups, including the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have emphatically stated that screening needs to begin at 40 instead of 50.

One risk of mammography is the rate of false negatives and false positives among younger women or women with dense breast tissue. Dense breasts can hide cancers, and mammograms can identify a perfectly normal variation in breast tissue and raise the alarm that it’s cancerous. Because of these mammogram drawbacks, we recommend that you not only perform monthly self-exams, but you should also have a secondary form of breast screening done, such as an ultrasound or an MRI.

Many women worry about the pain, but for most women it is merely uncomfortable for a few minutes. A mammogram compresses your breast (to reduce the thickness of the tissue) between two x-ray plates that are attached to a camera that takes photos of your breast. More than a couple pictures may be necessary for younger women or those with dense breasts.

From beginning to end, a mammogram takes about 20 minutes and involves much less radiation exposure today than in years past. According to the American Cancer Society, the radiation received during mammogram is about the same amount a person naturally gets in a 3-month period.

Typically, at least one radiologist reads your mammogram, and if two read it, the chances of missing a problem go down. If you are concerned, you can also have your mammogram analyzed by a computer through computer-aided detection (CAD). Software reviews mammogram images and marks areas of suspicion, and then the radiologist examines each area to see if it needs further evaluation.

Have you had a mammogram, and if so, do you have any words of advice?

3 Cozy, Romantic Spots for Fall

Charleston is a city full of romance and history. Here are a few of our favorite cozy, romantic spots. Warm up on a chilly night here.

Sunset Cruises 
Snuggle with your honey, feel the cool, fragrant ocean breeze, and enjoy a relaxing and romantic sunset cruise along Charleston’s gorgeous waterways. You’ll love the breathtaking views of the skyline as you take in the sights as the sun sets.

Some comments about this cruise:

“…The views on this cruise were beautiful. The staff was also excellent. They were very knowledgeable and easy to talk to.”

“…The captain even stopped the boat when we spotted dolphins so we could watch them in the water. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone.”

“…It was a peaceful boat ride through the harbor hitting some landmarks and watching the sunset over Charleston. There was some background on the landmarks and the guides would answer questions but for the most part, they let you sit and enjoy the ride and scenery. I highly recommend it!”

 

The Inn at Woodlands Mansion
Restored over a hundred years ago, The Inn at Woodlands Mansion is a stately turn-of-the-century plantation. Surrounded by lush oak trees and magnolias, you’ll feel like you’re back in the 1850s when you enter this grand property. The Inn is the perfect combination of Old South grandeur and modern luxuries.

From the website:

“At Woodlands Mansion, we want all of our guests to feel at home from the moment they arrive. Our Inn combines the intricate luxuries of a resort with the tranquility of a bed and breakfast, allowing guests to relax in the casually refined elegance of the property.”

 

Olde Towne Carriage Company
When the chill is in the air, bring your favorite cozy blanket and your special someone to Olde Towne Carriage Company for a carriage ride.

Read about where you’ll ride in this excerpt from the website:

“You will see the historic old market area where commerce has taken place for over 250 years, historical houses maintained in timeless fashion, beautiful gardens, artistic wrought iron gates, and decorative entrances to the many mansions as the tour winds through the 25–30 block area.

In addition, you will see parts of the old walled city and several of the many churches that give Charleston its nickname of the “Holy City”. Your tour guide will acquaint you with the history and architecture that make Charleston one of the truly grand jewels of the South. Most importantly you will gain a better understanding of the people that lived and traversed over the past three hundred years, on the very streets you are traveling.”

What is your favorite romantic spot in Charleston?

 

Can You Obtain Perfect Symmetry in Breast Reconstruction?

This week, Dr. Richard Kline of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your questions.

Q: I looked at your gallery  and I’m concerned about what I see as a mismatch in the photo examples. Is this not something you try to achieve?

A: Thank you for your wonderful question!

By “mismatch,” I’m assuming you mean the two breasts do not look the same when reconstruction is completed.

Firstly, we have many patients with very symmetrical breasts following reconstruction, and we could easily put only their pictures on our website, if we wished.

Thus far,  we have chosen to put less-perfect results on our website as well, believing it serves our potential patient population better, for the following several reasons.

In the real world, many patients will not be able to achieve a highly symmetrical result due to prior conditions, or will choose to not go through the multiple surgeries that will be required to get them as close to perfect symmetry as possible. If all patients came to us before their cancer was removed, we would coordinate their surgery with one of our highly experienced breast surgeons, they would nearly all receive nipple-sparing or at least skin-sparing mastectomies, and they would then have the greatest potential for good symmetry in the end.

In actuality, we see many patients from out of town who have already had non-skin-sparing mastectomies (often when nipple-sparing or skin-sparing mastectomies would have treated the cancer just as effectively). In this scenario, they have little potential to have their scar pattern converted to a more favorable one, and commonly need a lot of extra flap skin left in place in the breast. Occasionally a temporary tissue expander can be used to reduce the size of the skin paddle, but this does not always work, especially in radiated patients. If they chose to have a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, they could then of course choose to have the same type of mastectomy on the other side (which would help symmetry), but many patients understandably do not want to do any more damage to their healthy breast than they have to.

Additionally, many patients are left with permanent changes in their skin from radiation, which can cause permanent color mismatches, as well as excessive tightness in the skin. This can make it very hard to match a radiated side to a non-radiated side, more so in some patients than others. The more times we can operate in this situation, the closer we get, but sometimes ideal symmetry remains elusive.

We want ladies who have already had aggressive mastectomies, who are left with significant radiation damage, or who don’t want to go through many, many surgeries in pursuit of ideal symmetry to know that there is still help for them, without implying to them that they will get a result that is probably not realistic. All busy reconstructive practices have these patients, but not all choose to put them on their websites. It may not be a good marketing decision for us, but we feel it is the most honest way to deal with our prospective patients.

We’d enjoy any feedback you’d care to give us on this topic, as we argue about it a good bit amongst ourselves.

 

Dr. Richard M. Kline, Jr.

Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction

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

Ask the Doctors: Listen In, Again!

Yesterday’s live call was amazing—did you miss it?

Here’s a shot of Dr. James Craigie in action, as he listened and answered questions.

If you missed the call, don’t worry!

Here’s a link to the replay:

==> http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventID=43480677

Drs. Craigie and Kline answered your questions on a wide range of topics related to natural breast reconstruction, including:

    • Recovery issues–how long do certain procedures take
    • Aesthetic concerns—scar tissue, nipple sparing, etc.
    • More about preventive mastectomies…
  • And much more you’ll want to hear!

We are here for you. Feel free to scroll back through our comprehensive Ask the Doctor archive here on the blog, too, for more information! Or contact us anytime.