Before
& AfterPhotos
Emily McLaughlin's breast cancer diagnosis in 2016 transformed her from a practitioner to a patient overnight. As a plastic surgeon, she had reconstructed plenty of breasts affected by cancer. Still, she never guessed that she would need these same surgeries, putting her into a unique category of providers.
Dr. Rosie Ann Riley led a busy life in 2020 – the veteran had served her country in the Marine Corps and was a community volunteer. Illness was the last thing she expected to contend with, so she was angry when a mammogram a few weeks before Christmas revealed she had stage one breast cancer.
Boudoir photographer Jennifer Rozenbaum was on top of the world at age 41. She was well-known within the world of portrait photography, had a large social media following and had given a TEDx talk about boudoir photography, encouraging women to be shamelessly feminine.
Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day educates women about post-cancer breast reconstruction options. Celebrated this year on October 19, BRA Day features parades and community events in more than a dozen states throughout the nation.
Freelance writer Carin Silkaitis shares her experience getting her breast implants exchanged 10 years after her initial breast reconstruction procedure.
One in eight American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, and when they are, it helps to have choices for breast reconstruction after cancerous tissue removal. Thanks to innovations in surgery, women now have more options than ever when it comes to post-cancer breast reconstruction.
When Merry Maddox Rogers was first diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago, reconstruction was the last thing on her mind. "I didn't care," she recalls. "I was just thinking, 'get it out, get it out, get it out.'"
Navigating a breast cancer diagnosis can be an all-consuming experience. Whether processing the news, preparing for a mastectomy or going through chemotherapy, the process often takes over every facet of your life, and likely, the last thing on your mind is reconstructive surgery.
ASPS President Lynn Jeffers, MD, MBA, discovered she had breast cancer in 2018 after an MRI revealed a malignant lesion that her routine screening mammogram missed. She underwent a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction with tissue expanders, and began chemotherapy and radiation while serving as president-elect, and subsequently, president of the Society.
Throughout her life, Pam Bailey prided herself on her ability to take control. The daughter of parents who took part in various philanthropic efforts, she dedicated much of her time to continuing that cause, leading organizations that supported children's hospitals and took care of neglected and abused children.
Alisa Savoretti never imagined returning to the Las Vegas stage without her breast. The former showgirl retired her dancing shoes to build an e-commerce business after years of touring the world. She poured her time, energy and money into launching a successful online furniture store, but her plans took an unexpected turn in 2001 when she felt a lump in her right breast.