Cancer is a cruel and selfish beast. Each year it claims far too many and gives even more the fight of their lives. Breast cancer results in thousands of mastectomies performed each year in Canada. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation estimates that one in nine Canadian women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. While most Canadians are all too familiar with breast cancer, there are still a number of myths and misconceptions surrounding breast reconstruction surgery.
Myth #1: Breast reconstruction should only take place long after a mastectomy is done.
Breast reconstruction can often be performed during the same surgery as a mastectomy. Doing this does not typically increase the post-surgery recovery period and does not require a delay in beginning chemotherapy treatment. Performing breast reconstruction at the same time as a mastectomy can be easier on the patient’s body, as multiple general anesthetics and multiple recovery periods are not required. It also eliminates the time period a woman needs to live without one or both breasts while waiting for a breast reconstruction.
Myth #2: Breast reconstruction with breast implants increases the chance of recurrent breast cancer.
Breast implants do not increase the occurrence or recurrence of cancer. Additionally, they do not limit the ability to screen for breast cancer thanks to advancements in mammography and imaging technology.
Myth #3: Breast reconstruction does not impact a woman’s overall happiness.
Breast reconstruction for a woman who has lost her natural breasts to cancer contributes to her overall feeling of happiness and wellbeing. A mastectomy without reconstruction can be a daily reminder of cancer to a woman every time she looks in the mirror, damaging her feeling of ‘wholeness’. Reconstruction can help her feel physically complete and restore her feeling of femininity.
Myth #4: The CMH Breast Reconstruction Program doesn’t need your help.
The Cambridge Memorial Hospital breast reconstruction team is made up of The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic’s surgeons Dr. Shenker, Dr. Ma and Dr. Chesney as well as a talented team of general surgeons and oncologists at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital and from surrounding communities. These surgeons are diligently working towards making breast reconstruction surgery accessible for all breast cancer survivors in the Waterloo-Wellington region.
Most of the costs of doing breast reconstruction surgery comes directly out of the Cambridge Memorial Hospital budget, not from the provincial government. The hospital budget is stretched to the limit, and the breast reconstruction program is at risk of simply running out of money.
To donate to the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Breast Reconstruction Program, call 519.740.4966 (specify that your donation is for the Breast Reconstruction Program) or donate online.
