Breast Cancer United: Walk With Us This Nov. 27th

Big news! NPOAS has joined Breast Cancer United, a movement garnering the collective strength of over 50 leading breast cancer organizations, on a mission to eradicate breast cancer. We have joined forces, uniting as one to show the world that breast cancer exists far beyond pink ribbon campaigns and the month of October.

Register today to join Breast Cancer United’s virtual walk this Nov 27th, Black Friday, to build Breast Cancer awareness, empower our community, and demand action. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in both developed and developing economies. In the U.S., it is estimated that in 2020, 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women and about 1,620 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men.  Research recently published in JAMA shows that a significant amount of breast cancer screening are being missed and that cases are going undetected due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Black Friday virtual walk on Nov 27th will help reignite the importance of early detection, self-examinations, screening, and stage IV research.

Don’t forget to sign up / Get your shirt! Note: the deadline for shirt orders is Monday 11/9 at midnight, for delivery before the event.

#breastcancer #breastcancerunited #bcu #endglobalbreastcancer #Allyship #GSD #ifnotnowwhenifnotuswho #fightlikeagirl #radicaldisruption #unitedwestand #blackfridaytakeover #unitedwewin

Going Flat Story Featured in Florida Local Newspaper

Aesthetic flat closure in the news! AmySue Benker of Naples, FL tells her story, including how she decided to go flat. Read HERE. AmySue said of her decision:

“’I don’t want anything foreign in my body,’ she said… Benker’s other reasons for going flat included less chance of recurrence; increased job responsibilities as the executive director at North Naples Church; the chance to feel normal; and a realization that ;I didn’t need them.'”

In the article, AmySue’s breast surgeon, oncoplastic specialist Dr. Sharla Gayle Patterson MD (who is also on our Directory), is quoted as saying:

“‘I’ve seen a shift in the last 18 to 24 months,’ she said. ‘We’ve been so focused on reconstruction. Save the tatas. Some women want a flat, friendly aesthetic closure. That’s why it’s so important to listen.'”

Dr. Sharla Gayle Patterson MD
Photo: Alex Driehaus

Way to get the word out, AmySue! Thanks to the NewsPress, reporter Craig Handel, and photographer Alex Driehaus for this article!

#aestheticflatclosure

#putflatonthemenu

#flatfriendlysurgeons

Juliet Fitzpatrick in Vogue UK

Vogue UK just published Juliet Fitzpatrick’s story! Read HERE. Three other survivor’s stories are also featured, including Rime Hadri who went flat after her unilateral mastectomy. Photos are from a London-based photography project called “Behind the Scars” by Sophie Mayanne, which celebrates scars of all shapes and sizes, and the incredible stories behind them, encouraging people to celebrate the skin they’re in.

Photo: Sophie Mayanne

“I have completely accepted my scars, they’re part of me. They show the trauma I’ve gone through and I’ve come out of the other side as a stronger and more beautiful woman — both inside and out.”

Juliet FitzPatrick (UK)

When asked what we should be doing for breast cancer awareness, Juliet replied:

“More should be done to raise awareness of secondary breast cancer. It’s a hard message to communicate. People don’t want to hear it, but it’s an important subject.”

We couldn’t agree more. “Secondary breast cancer” is also known as metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and about one in three women who are diagnosed with early stage will progress to MBC and die from the disease. To support MBC research for better treatments to extend life and for a cure, you can donate to organizations like the Dr. Susan Love Foundation, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Metavivor.

We appreciate Juliet’s tireless work promoting flat visibility and MBC awareness across the UK and beyond!

#putflatonthemenu

#aestheticflatclosure

#stageIVneedsmore

Carine (France) Speaks Out About Fighting to Go Flat

Via Pascale Contrino of Complètement FEMME – l’audace d’être entière après une mastectomie (and a member of our Council of International Advocates)

Published in Rose Up Magazine, October 14, 2020

From France, Carine speaks out about her choice to explant with aesthetic flat closure (“reconstruction à plat,” or “fermeture esthétique à plat”). After her diagnosis in her 40’s, she had to fight for her CPM (contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, or removal of the other, “healthy” breast) and was not offered the option to go flat. Her initial implant reconstruction was extremely uncomfortable, and after nine months she found Marie-Claude Belzile‘s work at Tout aussi femme and felt empowered to have one last surgery: explant to flat.

Photo:  PEJ :: design | photography for Rose Up Magazine

“Relief: I have finally managed to express to my surgeon my wish that no more woman has to undergo the humiliation of having to be considered destroyed after the removal of one or both of her breasts.

Disappointment: I can measure all the work to be done so that this choice of a ‘flat reconstruction’ is integrated into consultation protocols and onco-surgical practices.”

Carine for Rose Up Magazine

Read the whole article here.

#aestheticflatclosure

#mastectomieafiniplat

#reconstructionaplat

#fermetureesthetiqueaplat

Mollie Hartford: This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, think beyond pink

Mollie in MA wrote this incredible article about the need to focus on our resources on metastatic breast cancer research for better treatments and a cure, and also threw this in for good measure:

“Plus, not everyone chooses reconstruction. Ask me about “aesthetic flat closure” or “going flat” (and how it’s a struggle to get doctors to believe it’s what we really want).”

Mollie Hartford for the Daily Hampshire Gazette

#stageIVneedsmore

#aestheticflatclosure

#putflatonthemenu