BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

Course overview

BREAST CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON CANCER, AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATH, IN WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES. TREATMENT HAS PROGRESSIVELY IMPROVED WITH NEW ADVANCES IN ENDOCRINE THERAPY, EARLY DETECTION, AND BREAST CONSERVATION SURGICAL TECHNIQUES. HOWEVER, FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING MASTECTOMY, THE ADDITIONAL CONCERN OF A DEFORMING SURGERY AFTER A CANCER DIAGNOSIS PLAYS A LARGE FACTOR IN PATIENTS' TREATMENT CHOICES. IT IS THE GOAL OF THE PLASTIC SURGEON, ALONG WITH THE PATIENT AND THEIR BREAST SURGEON, TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO RESTORE THE PATIENT’S BODY IMAGE. MANY FACTORS PLAY A ROLE IN THE RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS, AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS ALL OPTIONS WITH THE PATIENT TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL RESULTS. FROM THE TIMING OF THE PROCEDURE TO PROCEDURE CHOICE AND USE OF CHEMORADIATION, THE ENTIRE SCOPE OF THE CANCER TREATMENT MUST BE CONSIDERED BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH RECONSTRUCTION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS OF BREAST RECONSTRUCTION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE PRE- AND POST-OPERATIVE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PATIENTS.