Episode 25: Flap Monitoring in Breast Reconstruction and the History of the Guinea Pig Club in Plastic Surgery
Release Date: 01/11/2023
Breast Cancer Answers from a Medical Oncologist
DiepCJourney Podcast
In this episode of the I speak with a medical oncologist. has her own podcast called, with Dr. Teplinsky. She is Head of Breast Medical Oncology and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at The Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai, NY. She has a robust and education speaking about key topics in cancer care and survivorship. She addresses the consequences of a cancer diagnosis and the very real occurrence of patients playing the “blame game” thinking they may have caused their cancer. She addresses risk factors and how risk factors are not causal. Her favorite quote in her...
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Episode 28: A Breast Cancer Journey of Resilience
DiepCJourney Podcast
, Adjunct Professor at Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC is an author, educator, breast cancer survivor, and woman of faith. She personifies resilience. Neosho is my guest on this episode of the . We met as patient advocates at the in December of 2022 and found our lives had many parallels. We talk about these parallels through our Kansas heritage and our own personal Journey through DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Neosho has experienced homelessness and going through breast cancer treatment at the same time. She writes about her life’s experience in her book, . Her faith has...
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Episode 27: Is Access to DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Danger?
DiepCJourney Podcast
Access to DIEP flap breast reconstruction is in danger. Why? Because of coding changes to insurance, it may become out of reach financially for some women. This is the most advanced form of breast reconstruction available, and I felt it was time to address this concern. I begin by sharing my own story and how I was positively affected by making the choice to have DIEP flap after a second breast cancer diagnosis. I am one of thousands of voices who need to be heard, to be honored as we work to reverse this decision so access to this type of surgery can continue to be available. It was important...
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Episode 26: Breast Cancer Through the Lens of a Nurse Navigator
DiepCJourney Podcast
We are discussing a topic that will resonate with many of our listeners who have been affected by breast cancer. Whether you are the patient, caregiver, physician, or surgeon we are going to discuss navigating the complex Journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer through the lens of a nurse navigator. How does one seek this help at the cancer center you are being treated at? We will discuss working during a diagnosis and while in treatment and living a full and purposeful life as a survivor after breast cancer and breast reconstruction. We will also unpack the often challenging topic of...
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Episode 25: Flap Monitoring in Breast Reconstruction and the History of the Guinea Pig Club in Plastic Surgery
DiepCJourney Podcast
Since having DIEP flap, a plastic reconstructive surgery technique performed to rebuild breasts after a mastectomy, I have been fascinated with the field of plastic surgery and topics related specifically to breast reconstruction. I interview , CEO, of Spectros for the first episode of season three of the . Rob shares the story of his visit to the Queen Victory hospital () in England. He was able to visit Queen Victoria while attending the in late 2022. While at the conference, Rob demonstrated the developed by Spectros. T-Stat is used to monitor flaps in breast reconstruction and in our...
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Episode 24: Thought Leaders in Shared Decision-Making
DiepCJourney Podcast
The final episode of Season 2 of the DiepCJourney podcast brings together thought leaders in shared decision-making. This fireside chat includes the members of the (WHIS) . This team was formulated and is led by who founded WHIS in 2015. Taking a Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG3) approach to person centered health, Gareth Presch recognized that there were five key cornerstones of which all needed to be supported, at a the same time, by the same people: Health, Economy, Education, Environment, and Ecosystems. He discusses his work by looking back at the accomplishments and milestones met in...
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Episode 23: Dietitian and Coach for Breast Cancer Survivors
DiepCJourney Podcast
Food and what to eat after a breast cancer diagnosis is our topic on this episode of the . About 80% of all breast cancers are ER positive. This means the breast cancer cells grow in response to the hormone estrogen. With so much information about what to eat, what not to eat, how much to eat, food can become a topic that triggers anxiety and confusion. My guest today is . She is a registered dietitian, nutrition therapist, and certified personal trainer. Most women diagnosed with hormone-positive breast cancer feel anxious and confused about food, especially after they finish treatment. She...
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Episode 22: Clinical Trials in Breast Cancer
DiepCJourney Podcast
How many people diagnosed with breast cancer think about clinical trials or being part of one? In this episode of the we are going to discuss the importance of patients asking about participation in clinical trials and studies to improve the lives of breast cancer patients. My guest is . She is the Director of Breast Oncology at the and Professor of Medicine at . Dr. Graff is passionate about connecting with her patients for personalized care and advancing breast cancer research, and breast cancer prevention. Our interview includes the process and steps involved for patients who sign up for...
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Episode 21: High Definition DIEP Flap
DiepCJourney Podcast
High definition DIEP flap is combining the aesthetics of plastic surgery and the skill of microsurgery to optimize the donor site, the abdominal area, in breast reconstruction. of , sat down with me to record a Facebook Live interview for the . This occurred the day after BRA day, Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day 2022. This podcast is being used across other platforms, including the , and will also be seen on the The techniques used in high-definition DIEP flaps include methods of suturing and fat grafting to contour the shape of the abdominal area. Dr. Gassman addresses what patients are...
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Episode 20: Planning Your Breast Reconstruction
DiepCJourney Podcast
You have been diagnosed with breast cancer or find you are at high risk of getting breast cancer and are facing a mastectomy. Now what? If you choose to reconstruct your breast what does this process look like? Patients are inundated with information at the beginning of a diagnosis or finding they have a genetic mutation. They see an oncologist, breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, radiologist, and other medical specialists. Where does a patient begin the research and planning for your breast reconstruction? Is timing important if you are currently undergoing treatment, either chemotherapy or...
info_outlineSince having DIEP flap, a plastic reconstructive surgery technique performed to rebuild breasts after a mastectomy, I have been fascinated with the field of plastic surgery and topics related specifically to breast reconstruction.
I interview Rob Pupelis, CEO, of Spectros for the first episode of season three of the DiepCJourney podcast. Rob shares the story of his visit to the Queen Victory hospital (QVH) in England. He was able to visit Queen Victoria while attending the London Breast Meeting in late 2022. While at the conference, Rob demonstrated the T-Stat tissue oximetry system developed by Spectros. T-Stat is used to monitor flaps in breast reconstruction and in our conversation, we discuss the efficacy of the T-Stat system and why it improves the surgeon’s success rate of flap procedures like the DIEP flap.
We begin our conversation with the history of the Queen Victory Hospital treating burn victims during WWII. A surgeon from New Zealand, Archibald McIndoe, came to the Queen Victory hospital via a chance meeting with his cousin, Sir Harold Gillies, often considered the father of plastic surgery. Seeing the severe burn injuries sustained by pilots in WWII, McIndoe saw what his cousin, Sir Harold Gillies did using tube pedicles to rebuild the faces of WWI soldiers and expanded on this technique by treating the soldiers at Queen Victoria. He took healthy, unburnt tissue from other sites on the soldiers to reconstruct burnt tissue.
He nurtured this community, and these airmen were considered “guinea pigs” as part of his pioneering work in reconstructive burn surgery. These young airmen treated by Archibald McIndoe became known as the Guinea Pig club. He took them under his care not only during their physical healing but also treating the psychological impact of having disfigurement from these burns. There were over 600 of these airmen. Rob shared some of the photos hanging in the halls of QVH taken during his visit listing the members of The Guinea Pig Club, Archibald McIndoe, and the operating theater.
We go on to discuss modern day techniques used in microsurgery and how Rob became the CEO of Spectros. Flap monitoring is an important question many patients ask about. The T-Stat monitoring system is at the bedside of the patient after DIEP flap breast reconstruction to ensure that the blood flowing into the breast and out of the breast is monitored.
The physician performing the DIEP flap has 24-hour access to real time data provided by the monitoring system via a small sensor placed on the flap to monitor it while the patient is in hospital after surgery. We went on to discuss how T-Stat can be used regardless of the coloration of skin.
I hope this educational podcast discussion will encourage patients to ask about the type of tissue monitoring system their surgeon uses to monitor flaps during their initial consult for breast reconstruction. Many thanks to Rob for educating us about the benefits of the T-Stat system by Spectros.
