Women Are Losing the Numbers Game When it Comes to Knowing Their Breast Reconstruction Options

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Two recent studies prove women are not getting the information they need to make informed decisions regarding their post mastectomy reconstruction options. A staggering 7 out of 10 women facing breast cancer are never told of their options, according to a recent report published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  An additional study released at the 2010 American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBS) Annual Meeting reported that 4 of 5 women do not receive breast reconstruction after mastectomy despite legislation passed more than 10 years ago requiring insurance companies to cover the cost. The results of these studies indicate how important it is for women to get as much information as possible prior to treatment.

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Dr. Frank DellaCroce, FACS and Dr. Scott Sullivan, FACS of the St. Charles Surgical Hospital, the only hospital in the world dedicated to breast reconstruction for women facing cancer and the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, believe breast reconstruction not only provides a return to normal activity, but helps complete the healing process.  In Dr. DellaCroce's September 2009 article Breast Reconstruction, Perforator Flap he states, "breast reconstruction now occupies an important place in the overall modern treatment planning for women who face mastectomy. The art of breast reconstruction has undergone commensurate evolution over the last 20 years. This progress has resulted in techniques that further the plastic surgeon's quest toward the ideal method." DellaCroce's article further states that all women who undergo mastectomy are candidates for consideration of perforator flap breast reconstruction, but a lack of both information and access have resulted in a low percentage of actual reconstructions.

"Women don't need to become part of the statistics; they need to stand up and fight for their lives," states Sullivan.  "It is our responsibility, as physicians, to provide our patients with the best information available to make a decision they are happy with, and one they can live with for the rest of their lives."  The ASBS now advocates for a team approach consisting of a group of key medical professionals, including a gynecologist, radiologist, breast surgeon, medical oncologist, and a plastic surgeon.  The team, implemented at the time of diagnosis, works together to develop a treatment plan specifically designed for each patient.   

Doctors DellaCroce and Sullivan are the first Plastic Surgeons in the world to report a 100% success rate with immediate reconstruction, as published in the February 2008 issue of Annals of Surgical Oncology. They are international leaders in all breast cancer surgery options including state-of-the-art techniques, such as; DIEP, SIEA and GAP flap procedures that allow for breast reconstruction without sacrifice of important functional muscles. Having performed more than 3000 breast reconstruction surgeries for women facing breast cancer, far more than any other physicians worldwide, they have pioneered many of the revolutionary procedures at the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery including the ground-breaking immediate reconstruction option—the Nipple Sparing Mastectomy.

Patients come from all over the world to see these surgeons because their techniques are changing the outcomes for women who are dealing with mastectomy and breast cancer.  They are not only dedicated to healing their patients physically, but also making them feel whole again.

CENTER FOR RESTORATIVE BREAST SURGERY SERVICE INFORMATION: Founded by Frank J. DellaCroce, M.D., FACS and Scott K. Sullivan, M.D., FACS, the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery was established to serve as a dedicated resource for women seeking the most advanced methods of breast reconstruction utilizing the body's own tissue. Drs. Sullivan and DellaCroce specialize exclusively in state-of-the-art techniques (DIEP, SIEA and GAP flap procedures) that allow for breast reconstruction without sacrifice of important functional muscles. For more information please visit <http://www.breastcenter.com> or call 1-888-899-2288. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.

SOURCE Center for Restorative Breast Surgery