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I recently interview Genetic Counselor Sara Knapke, MS,CGC, of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Genetics Department, regarding hereditary cancers and the testing available. In the next series of ...

Testing For the "Breast Cancer Gene Mutation": Is It Right For You?

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KG: There are various methods of reconstruction after a mastectomy. Is there a specific method you use more often, and if so, why? DK: I perform numerous types of reconstruction, but far and ...

Interview with a Plastic Surgeon Regarding Breast Reconstruction: Part 2

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I spoke with my plastic surgeon, Donna Krummen, regarding explanations that I found helpful in my process of choosing a doctor, and then the experiences during and after surgeries. KG:Have many ...

Interviewing a Plastic Surgeon about Prophylactic Mastectomy Reconstruction: Part 1

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There comes a period of time every year, from April through May, until Mothers Day, where I struggle a bit. I haven’t written as much, my moods have been a bit glum, and it’s obvious to me why ...

How I Found My Mom, 10 Years After Losing Her.

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After my PBM, and immediate onset of reconstruction, I spent weeks recovering, regaining strength in my arms, and recovering from the fatigue. As much as the “old me” still remained ...

Returning to Normal After a Prophylactic Mastectomy…But What Does That Really Mean Anyway?

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I vaguely recall waking up after my PBM. (Prophylactic Bilateral Mastectomy). Despite my grogginess, there was an astounding feeling of relief, and pride. I’d made it through to the other ...

Recovering From My Prophylactic Bilateral Mastectomy

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Along the path towards surgery, there were many decisions that changed my life for the better, but none more so than learning to let people help me. Thinking back now, I don’t know how I would ...

Tomorrow Revised: My Support Team

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Friday, April the third, marks a one year anniversary. On that day, in 2008, I had my cancer risk reducing surgery, specifically a bilateral mastectomy, with reconstruction. It’s astonishing ...

Tomorrow Revised: Part 4-Plastic Surgery Decisions

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Today while I was at work I publicly groped myself. Again. I didn’t intend on being indecent, (again), I’m just still becoming accustomed to my curvier figure. When I wrote last about my ...

Tomorrow Revised: Part 3

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This evening, I sat in a coffee shop with my daughter. She was working on homework and I was filling out a questionnaire for a cancer study. I recalled a conversation, in which my mother told me ...

Tomorrow Revised: How Modern Science and the Women in My Family Changed My Life, Part 2

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I was told of my Mother’s cancer diagnoses as my childhood concluded, and this recollection has permeated my every cell. My Mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 43; I was 12 at the time. My ...

Tomorrow Revised: How Modern Science and the Women in My Family Changed My Life