PRMA Sponsors Bold Breast Reconstruction Calendar

For Immediate Release: September 24, 2007

PRMA of South Texas, a leading cosmetic and plastic surgery practice in San Antonio, Texas is sponsoring a unique effort to inform and educate breast cancer patients about their options after mastectomy.

“Life is a Carnival,” a bold approach to mastectomy and breast cancer reconstruction education, is a 14-month calendar featuring photos of women who had breast reconstruction after mastectomy and those who didn’t. The calendar is published by Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), the only national nonprofit organization for families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. “More than just a calendar, ‘Life is a Carnival’ is an intimate collection of real women courageously sharing their bodies and their experiences to help others understand their choices,” said Sue Friedman, FORCE Executive Director. “Our calendar celebrates life after mastectomy. As these breast reconstruction photos attest, life after mastectomy— with or without reconstruction—does go on.”

Mastectomies are performed to treat various types of breast cancer. Increasingly, more women—including very young women—with a family history of the disease are choosing preventative (or prophylactic) mastectomies to reduce their lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, which can be as high as 85 percent. Choosing the best way to reconstruct breasts lost to mastectomy, or whether to reconstruct them at all, can be confusing and overwhelming. “Life is a Carnival” provides a unique way to explore options, consider different restorative techniques and make informed decisions when it comes to mastectomy reconstruction. “Today, women have many reconstructive options after mastectomy,” said PRMA’s Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. “We’re proud to sponsor ‘Life is a Carnival’, a tool that helps women understand what is possible so they can make their own informed decisions.”

PRMA plastic surgeons Drs. Peter Ledoux, Chet Nastala, Steven Pisano, and Minas Chrysopoulo specialize in all aspects of cosmetic surgery and breast cancer reconstruction following mastectomy, with a special emphasis on advanced microsurgical breast reconstruction techniques using the patient’s own tissue. Their preferred reconstructive technique is the DIEP flap (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator flap), which uses the patient’s lower abdominal tissue (like a tummy tuck) and spares the abdominal muscle.

The DIEP procedure is the new “gold standard” in breast reconstruction surgery and is associated with less postoperative pain and a shorter hospital stay and recovery than the conventional TRAM flap procedure. Another major benefit of the DIEP flap procedure is that it prevents the loss of abdominal muscle strength usually associated with TRAM flap reconstruction. Experience is an essential factor for this technically demanding surgery; PRMA performs over 300 DIEP flap breast reconstructions per year.

The “Life is a Carnival” calendar is available from the FORCE website.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

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Susan hits the Spot on Friday

Now that Susan's done with another round of chemo, the race is on to get her innards in shape for her next visit to Hotel Hope.

As you may have gathered, cancer is a full-time gig for Susan, and she's missed seeing friends minus the drug-induced fog of chemo.

So, she's going to park her pole-dancing derrière at The Taco Spot on Friday and enjoy a leisurely, late lunch.

While there is no medical evidence that spicy shrimp tacos boost platelet production, why take a chance? Better for her to eat tacos now in case researchers discover a correlation later!

I, your faithful cancer correspondent, will be there as well, most likely up to my neck in nachos.

Why don't you play hooky and stop by for a visit and/or lunch? (If we're lucky, the hunks from the fire station across the street will stroll in.)

Here are the details:
Friday, June 29
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Stop by anytime during Susan's "office hours"

The Taco Spot
2006 Colorado Bl. Eagle Rock
Here's the menu.

There's street parking and a small lot in back. This is a BYOB (buy your own burrito), very casual gathering. Seriously, wear your flip-flops.

If you think you'll be dropping by, just email Susan or leave a comment here, and we'll corral enough chairs. The restaurant should be emptying out by 1, so it'll be quiet enough to talk, possibly about the aforementioned muy caliente fire fighters.

Oh, and Susan's progress, of course. We can chat about that, too.