Comments on: Breast Cancer Patients Once Kept in the Dark Offered New Hope http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/ Just another WordPress site Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:31:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: charlene http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/#comment-176 charlene Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:21:56 +0000 http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/features/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope.html#comment-176 Really wish they addressed the actual breast recon procedures available these days, in particular the one-step with alloderm procedure that many are flocking to, yet still have to fly out of town and often pay big to get it done. Especially while they had a plastic surgeon of this caliber on the couch... Really wish they addressed the actual breast recon procedures available these days, in particular the one-step with alloderm procedure that many are flocking to, yet still have to fly out of town and often pay big to get it done. Especially while they had a plastic surgeon of this caliber on the couch…

]]> By: Rosie Blankenship http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/#comment-175 Rosie Blankenship Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:56:19 +0000 http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/features/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope.html#comment-175 Becca, you look amazing. Thank you for sharing your story. It is so important to let women know of their options and I hope, as I am sure you do, that this will help a few women. Too many of us miss this information. I, for one, am thrilled you used the term "No Evidence of Disease." For me, this underscores the fact that breast cancer is not "curable" and the closest thing you can get to good news is "NED." This is the term doctors use - I have a copy of my last pathology report that says "no evidence of disease." :) Good job, lady. I'm proud of you. Becca, you look amazing. Thank you for sharing your story. It is so important to let women know of their options and I hope, as I am sure you do, that this will help a few women. Too many of us miss this information. I, for one, am thrilled you used the term “No Evidence of Disease.” For me, this underscores the fact that breast cancer is not “curable” and the closest thing you can get to good news is “NED.” This is the term doctors use – I have a copy of my last pathology report that says “no evidence of disease.” :) Good job, lady. I’m proud of you.

]]> By: Valerie http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/#comment-174 Valerie Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:44:05 +0000 http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/features/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope.html#comment-174 Thank you, Becca, for sharing your story! I also, was not told that immediate reconstruction was an option. Fortunately, I found out about it on my own before meeting with my breast surgeon for the first time. I had to ask for it. It isn't fair. Thank you, Becca, for sharing your story! I also, was not told that immediate reconstruction was an option. Fortunately, I found out about it on my own before meeting with my breast surgeon for the first time. I had to ask for it. It isn’t fair.

]]> By: Kathryn http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/#comment-173 Kathryn Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:42:05 +0000 http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/features/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope.html#comment-173 I'm currently in treatment, looking forward to NED. I think the term is a realistic one in every sense, and gives us at least some way of describing our best hope. No Evidence of Disease is just that... it doesn't even begin to state No Disease Present. Just none that we can prove. Would you have us all state that we could always have cancer at any moment? I prefer to be a little more optimistic than that, even if it is the truth. Besides, it is my understanding that Rebecca states more than once that she battled cancer twice. I think she demonstrates that cancer can be the gift that keeps on giving well enough. I just switched oncologists this week, and would like to stress the importance of being comfortable with your team from the onset as well. Being unsure whether or not the individual who is essentially the quarterback for my team had my best interests at heart has been a real source of stress. You should never feel that your needs are being dismissed. Thank you for making that point. You should be told much more than just where to be for your treatment. It's your life in question. I’m currently in treatment, looking forward to NED. I think the term is a realistic one in every sense, and gives us at least some way of describing our best hope. No Evidence of Disease is just that… it doesn’t even begin to state No Disease Present. Just none that we can prove. Would you have us all state that we could always have cancer at any moment? I prefer to be a little more optimistic than that, even if it is the truth.
Besides, it is my understanding that Rebecca states more than once that she battled cancer twice. I think she demonstrates that cancer can be the gift that keeps on giving well enough.
I just switched oncologists this week, and would like to stress the importance of being comfortable with your team from the onset as well. Being unsure whether or not the individual who is essentially the quarterback for my team had my best interests at heart has been a real source of stress. You should never feel that your needs are being dismissed. Thank you for making that point. You should be told much more than just where to be for your treatment. It’s your life in question.

]]> By: Ruth http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/#comment-172 Ruth Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:02:07 +0000 http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/features/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope.html#comment-172 As a 2 1/2 year survivor, I have repeatedly been told that "no evidence of disease" is the best we can hope for unless and until they can find a cure. No evidence of disease or "NED" is absolutely the correct terminology. As a 2 1/2 year survivor, I have repeatedly been told that “no evidence of disease” is the best we can hope for unless and until they can find a cure. No evidence of disease or “NED” is absolutely the correct terminology.

]]> By: Cassie http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/#comment-171 Cassie Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:06:02 +0000 http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/features/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope.html#comment-171 I'm a three year survivor, and I do understand the difference between NED and cure. Personally, I didn't assume Rebecca intended to convey that she was cured, because for one thing, there is no cure for breast cancer (please note that, Komen,) and for another thing, she is only three years out of a second diagnosis. I assume she realizes that she isn't cured, and thus, did not use the word "cure" at all. This was on the "Plastic Surgery Channel," not the "Oncology Channel," so I thought her use of NED was appropriate. However, I agree that it would have been nice if the doctors on the show had taken just a quick second to dispel the myth of breast cancer being curable. I don't think correcting Rebecca would have been appropriate, as she was personally correct, but I think they missed an opportunity as medical professionals to help bring meaningful awareness about breast cancer. I’m a three year survivor, and I do understand the difference between NED and cure. Personally, I didn’t assume Rebecca intended to convey that she was cured, because for one thing, there is no cure for breast cancer (please note that, Komen,) and for another thing, she is only three years out of a second diagnosis. I assume she realizes that she isn’t cured, and thus, did not use the word “cure” at all. This was on the “Plastic Surgery Channel,” not the “Oncology Channel,” so I thought her use of NED was appropriate. However, I agree that it would have been nice if the doctors on the show had taken just a quick second to dispel the myth of breast cancer being curable. I don’t think correcting Rebecca would have been appropriate, as she was personally correct, but I think they missed an opportunity as medical professionals to help bring meaningful awareness about breast cancer.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/#comment-170 Rebecca Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:27:37 +0000 http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/features/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope.html#comment-170 To clarify - "no evidence of disease" does not mean "cured." It means there is no clinical evidence of disease. There was nothing to correct, as the statement was accurate. The simple fact that I'm alive is a great message to send patients. Many are not. Patients should grab onto hope instead of giving up. There is always hope. And there should always be hope. To clarify – “no evidence of disease” does not mean “cured.” It means there is no clinical evidence of disease. There was nothing to correct, as the statement was accurate.

The simple fact that I’m alive is a great message to send patients. Many are not.

Patients should grab onto hope instead of giving up. There is always hope. And there should always be hope.

]]> By: Wendy Azevedo http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope/#comment-169 Wendy Azevedo Sun, 16 Aug 2009 06:02:14 +0000 http://www.theplasticsurgerychannel.com/features/breast-cancer-patients-once-kept-in-the-dark-offered-new-hope.html#comment-169 As an RN who works with Breast Cancer patients and a 25 year survivor that was diagnosed at the age of 33, I enjoyed the information you had to give and will pass it on to my patients. In an effort to follow through with the philosphy of preparing a patient to be able to ask questions of the plastic surgeon, it would have been nice to hear about the different plastic surgery options available to mastectomy patients, so they could familiarize themselves the various procedures. I, myself have had implants and subsequent bilateral TRAM flap that has now lasted in good condition for 18 years. I was disappointed to not hear the medical doctors on your program correct Rebecca when she proudly stated that she had "No Evidence of Disease" as if to imply that a patient that has lived a few years past their diagnosis is cured. Not a good message to send to patients who are grabbing on to hope at every juncture. Thank you for addressing these issues. It helps a lot having tools to educate patients with. Wendy Azevedo As an RN who works with Breast Cancer patients and a 25 year survivor that was
diagnosed at the age of 33, I enjoyed the information you had to give and will pass it on to my patients. In an effort to follow through with the philosphy of
preparing a patient to be able to ask questions of the plastic surgeon, it would have been nice to hear about the different plastic surgery options available to mastectomy patients, so they could familiarize themselves the various procedures.
I, myself have had implants and subsequent bilateral TRAM flap that has now lasted in good condition for 18 years.

I was disappointed to not hear the medical doctors on your program correct Rebecca
when she proudly stated that she had “No Evidence of Disease” as if to imply that
a patient that has lived a few years past their diagnosis is cured. Not a good
message to send to patients who are grabbing on to hope at every juncture.
Thank you for addressing these issues. It helps a lot having tools to educate
patients with. Wendy Azevedo

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