Register for Sixth Annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day October 18

Events raise awareness for breast reconstruction options

July 31, 2017
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

Many women who have undergone a mastectomy or lumpectomy are unaware of their reconstruction options available to them. Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is a campaign designed to put an end to the unknown by promoting public education, patient care and research. The sixth annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day takes place October 18.

Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is a collaborative effort between the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF), plastic surgeons specializing in breast surgery, nurse navigators, corporate partners, breast cancer support groups and organizations.

These organizations and breast cancer patients, along with their families and friends, coordinate events on the special day that include media events, question and answer sessions, lectures, flash mobs, fundraising parties, advertising campaigns, community events and more.

The Diamond Sponsor of this year's BRA Day is Mentor, a leading supplier of medical products for the global aesthetic medicine market. The company has made breast implant devices for more than 30 years.

"We are so pleased to welcome Mentor as a 2017 Diamond Sponsor. Collaborating with such an innovative and driven company allows our members to provide their patients with safe and effective care," said ASPS President Debra Johnson, MD. "We are excited to work with Mentor on October 18 and educate women about their rights to breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery."

Mike Kelly, product director of U.S. Marketing, Mentor Worldwide LLC, said, "Breast reconstruction patient education is incredibly important and continues to be an area where focus and attention is needed from industry and providers, alike. We are thrilled to join the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Campaign to continue empowering women to make informed breast reconstruction decisions following a mastectomy or lumpectomy."

Public education is key

Not all women are offered information about breast reconstruction at the time of diagnosis. In fact, the two main reasons women do not undergo breast reconstruction is that patients are not referred to breast reconstructive surgeons and are not informed of their reconstructive options.

Breast reconstruction is part of a comprehensive approach and treatment for breast cancer patients. Studies show that women who undergo breast reconstruction experience significant improvements in psychological, social and sexual well-being.

A comprehensive team approach provides a cohesive method to breast cancer treatment. Integral to this cohesiveness are the frequent breast tumor board meetings that occur to discuss each individual patient and their individualized treatment. Members of this group of specialists are breast surgeons, plastic pathologists, reconstructive surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, geneticists, nurses, patient care coordinators and more. This type of team approach ensures that key decisions regarding each patient's treatment are discussed and agreed upon by all team members. All aspects of care, from social to medical, are addressed at these meetings.