The BEACON Reviews 15 Breast Cancer Network Australia’S Magazine Issue 53 Summer 2010 Dates for Your Diary 16 ISSN 1834-5921 Focus On: Breast Reconstruction
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INSIDE Issues of concern 4 Ask the Expert 6 Member Group profile 11 Mini-Fields 2010 12 Thank you 14 the BEACON Reviews 15 Breast Cancer Network Australia’s Magazine Issue 53 Summer 2010 Dates for your diary 16 ISSN 1834-5921 Focus on: Breast reconstruction Reconstruction: no right or wrong way This issue of The Beacon Mildura Daily, courtesy Picture of Sunraysia revisits a topic we have considered before – breast reconstruction – as it continues to be of interest to our readers. New surgical developments evolve, newly diagnosed women are considering their options and some women are revisiting this even though they are years down the track from their breast cancer diagnosis. There is no right or wrong way for women to approach reconstruction. However, we The Pink Lady was seen in communities all around Australia, in October. hope their decisions are based Liz Martin and her daughter at their Mini-Field at Mildura on the Murray River. on good-quality information, a discussion of the full range of from women who have ‘been registered our 50,000th BCNA commitment and energy they options and, most importantly, there and done that’ (or not), member! have given to BCNA and our each woman’s preferences. and encouragement to do what I always think about the size of work this year. Unfortunately, it seems the is best for you, while pointing our membership with mixed Finally, I wish all our readers decisions women make are you in the direction of further feelings – sadness that there are happiness and love, and a year sometimes limited by a lack of resources that might help. so many of us, but satisfaction ahead full of special moments. availability of services in the I would like to particularly in knowing that we can reach so Lyn Swinburne public hospital system and thank all those women who many women and men, and that Chief Executive Officer where they live. sent in their articles. We were we are linked together. BCNA is passionate about overwhelmed by the volume of While it’s a club none of us would reconstruction being considered the responses and interest. have volunteered for, hopefully part of a woman’s treatment, if For some of our readers, this year BCNA offers strength, a sense of that is what she chooses, rather will have been a challenging one resilience and connectedness, than as a cosmetic ‘extra’. and they will be pleased to wave and some inspiration to all of us The information offered in this 2010 goodbye and to turn their on our breast cancer journeys. issue of The Beacon is consistent sights towards a new, healthier At the very least, women should with BCNA’s philosophy around year ahead. know they are not alone! empowerment of women. We It has been another busy year I would like to thank our offer you, the reader, the latest for BCNA, one in which we can dedicated and energetic Board We wish all our readers clinical information, a range feel proud of our achievements. members, staff, volunteers a happy, safe and healthy of responses and experiences Significantly, we have just and supporters for the extra festive season and new year. www.bcna.org.au Summer 2010 1 BCNA’s Priorities from the Minister Herceptin Following the federal election research to build a world-class women diagnosed with breast survey in August, The Beacon asked cancer care system in Australia. cancer. This complements the In July this year BCNA, with the Health Minister Nicola Roxon The Gillard Government will Government’s $560 million support of Cancer Australia, to outline the Government’s continue to support women investment in new or upgraded surveyed women with HER2- priorities for breast cancer for with breast cancer, their families cancer centres in regional positive early breast cancer the next three years. Here is the and carers through initiatives and rural communities across about their experiences with Minister’s response. including providing funding Australia. the drug Herceptin. to Breast Cancer Network The establishment of Cancer The survey was designed to The Gillard Government is Australia, digital mammography Australia as a single national inform us about women’s strongly committed to the equipment for BreastScreen cancer control agency will draw heart health during their prevention, treatment and Australia, reimbursements for on best practice. The agency Herceptin treatment and quality care of women with external breast prostheses, will maintain a substantial whether they received regular breast cancer. funding for the McGrath commitment to breast cancer heart monitoring. Heart Breast cancer is the second Foundation specialist breast as it delivers the Government’s problems can be a side effect most common form of cancer care nurses, $168 million over broader cancer programs, of Herceptin for a small number in females behind lung cancer, four years to subsidise the research priorities and improved of women. with more than 12,000 Australian breast cancer treatment drug health outcomes for all Our results found that nearly all women diagnosed each year. Herceptin, and a survey to Australians with cancer. women who responded (99%) help better understand the Australia has made significant I would like to take this received heart monitoring. progression and treatment of improvements in diagnosing and opportunity to wish readers of Seventeen women (6%) breast cancer. treating breast cancer. The Beacon and everyone at said they developed a heart Since 2009, we have committed The focus on rural and regional BCNA a Merry Christmas and all condition which required $2 billion in infrastructure, areas will continue with ongoing the best for 2011. stopping their Herceptin medicines, screening and funds for supporting rural treatment. However, at least eight of them were able to resume Herceptin after receiving treatment for their heart condition. Of particular concern was the finding that 40% had to pay for their heart monitoring tests, with some women paying up to $300 per test. BCNA was thrilled to be invited to present the findings of this survey at a major oncology conference in Melbourne in November. This demonstrates the impact BCNA members can have on influencing the breast cancer agenda. To read a full report of the survey results, visit www.bcna. org.au > News > Resources > Research reports. BCNA Chair Marg O’Donnell, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Health Minister Nicola Roxon and BNCA Chief Executive Officer Lyn Swinburne at the 2010 Field of Women LIVE. 2 Summer 2010 Breast Cancer Network Australia Types of reconstruction Breast reconstruction surgery recreates the shape of a breast following mastectomy or, less frequently, breast conserving surgery. It can be performed using implants, your own tissue, or a combination of both. Most types of reconstruction will involve more than one surgical procedure. You can also have a nipple reconstruction or tattoo Images from our My Journey Kit. to create the look of a nipple. Implants skin and stop it from stretching to the chest wall’s blood supply. and donor sites. There is also a Silicone or saline implants can enough to accommodate an You may also hear of ‘perforator small risk with a free flap that be inserted under the chest implant. flaps’. These involve removing the breast tissue may die (due muscle onto the chest wall. skin and fat, without muscle, to a lack of blood supply) and Usually, a tissue expander will be Tissue flaps from the abdomen (DIEP or another operation may be inserted first to stretch the skin Tissue flaps use your own skin, SIEA flap) or buttock (GAP flap) required to remove it. and muscle to accommodate fat and muscle to form the shape and attaching the blood vessels Tissue flaps may not be suitable the implant. The expander is of a breast. There are two main that feed the tissue to the chest for women who have other filled over a period of weeks types of tissue flap procedures – blood supply using complex health conditions, such as or months by injecting it with ‘attached flaps’ and ‘free flaps’. microsurgery. diabetes. saline about once a week. Once Attached flaps use skin, fat Skin and fat tissue from your the expander has reached the and muscle from your back healthy breast can also be Nipple reconstruction desired size, you will require (latissimus dorsi) or abdomen used to create a new breast. After breast reconstruction, you another operation to remove the (TRAM flap). A portion of fat and This is called breast sharing may like to have a new nipple expander and replace it with an muscle is tunnelled under the reconstruction. created or tattooed. Nipples implant. skin from the back or abdomen can be made using tissue on The main advantage of a tissue to the chest to form the new the new breast or a skin graft The main advantage of flap reconstruction is that it breast. The flap remains attached from another part of the body, implants is that the operation is produces a more natural breast to its original blood supply. A such as the inner thigh or labia. relatively simple and recovery shape, which will change as saline implant may be inserted Once the nipple is created, the time is usually short. The main your body changes. The main behind it to increase the size of area around it can be tattooed disadvantages are that it can disadvantages are that surgery the breast. to match the colour of the other be difficult for the surgeon to and recovery times are longer breast’s areola. Some women match the shape of the existing Attached flaps may not suit you than for implant surgery, and choose just to have a nipple breast, the new breast may not if you don’t have enough tissue you will have scarring to the tattoo, without any nipple feel natural and it won’t lose or on your back or stomach to form donor site as well as the breast.