Breast Cancer Awareness

A local surgeon and cancer victim talk about the options when it comes to breast reconstruction.

As Breast Cancer Awareness month draws to a close, we have an important story for women faced with a diagnosis. Many women describe an overwhelming fear at the thought of possibly losing a part of their bodies that defines their femininity. Today, we talk to a local doctor and cancer victim about the options when it comes to breast reconstruction.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Manish Gupta says, "The major fear that women have is that this is some sort of vanity procedure and it really isn't. It's really a restoration of one of the main feminine identity markers." Dr. Manish Gupta says there are 2 main techniques for breast reconstruction. One is a tissue expander, followed by an implant.

Dr. Gupta explains, "This is just an example of one of those tissue sacs. It would be placed into that tissue and then it would be gently filed up with salt water." That stretches the tissue, and makes room for a permanent implant.

The other technique uses no artificial tissue at all. It's called a Tran-flap. Dr. Gupta says, "Taking this chunk of tissue, which is your own skin, your own fat, and bringing that up to recreate a functional breast." So you're sort of getting a little tummy tuck along with it," asks 13abc's Susan Ross Wells. Dr. Gupta responds, "Actually, that's one of the side effects women really do like is you get a tummy tuck out of it."

Pam Behrens had her right cancerous breast removed in February of last year. "She says you're a time bomb waiting to go off. She says I give you 2 to 3 years and she says this left breast is going to have breast cancer in it," says Pam. Because of her doctor's concerns, the left breast was removed the following June.

For Pam's reconstruction, she opted for implants. She says, "Naturally I says well, ya know, since I have to go through this anyhow, I says, can we make me a little bit better than I was before? Ha, and so that's what we did."

There are even techniques to recreate the nipple and areola using tattooing for a natural look. So you can wear your clothes comfortably, and feel confident. Dr. Gupta says breast reconstruction is covered by insurance, even procedures for the other, non cancerous breast to ensure symmetry.

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