Completing the circle of care: A presentation of post-breast surgery options for mastectomy patients who do not have reconstruction

10^th Global Annual Oncologists Meeting

July 11-13, 2016 Cologne, Germany

Pattie Cagney Sheehan

Second Act, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

The use of silicone gel prosthesis to replace breast tissue after surgery is an important and viable alternative to reconstruction. For many women reconstructive breast surgery is either not possible or not preferred or it may be unavailable or unaffordable. For these breast cancer survivors the result is not just cosmetic. The health issues caused by changes to their posture can include damage to their shoulders and back. Equally important are the psychological issues of body image and self-esteem that can limit their ability to move forward and live a healthy life. This presentation will introduce you to the many products available to help women move forward after surgery is beginning with the recovery garments that provide for drain management and comfort in the days immediately following surgery. We will then introduce you to lightweight foam prostheses and post-surgery bras worn for the next 4-6 weeks while their surgery site is healing. Following that there is a range of shapes, sizes and weights of silicone gel prostheses that are worn either in a pocketed mastectomy bra or attached to the chest wall. We will also introduce you to the custom prosthesis whereby the woman's chest wall is laser scanned to identify all irregularities and a prothesis is hand molded to fit exactly against her chest. Finally we will show you the range of mastectomy bras, leisure & swim and sleep wear designed with pocketed construction to securely hold the prothesis in place so the results of the surgery are undetectable.

Biography :

Email: pattie@secondactchicago.com