"Be informed. Be empowered. Be well". If you are concerned that the cancer in your family is hereditary, you face difficult choices. Should you have a blood test that may reveal whether you have a high likelihood of disease? Do you preemptively treat a disease that may never develop? How do you make decisions now that will affect the rest of your life? This helpful, informative guide answers your questions as you confront hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Developed by Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), the nation's only nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, this book stands alone among breast and ovarian cancer resources. Equal parts health guide and memoir, it defines complex issues facing previvors and survivors and provides solutions with a fresh, authoritative voice. Written by three passionate advocates for the hereditary cancer community who are themselves breast cancer survivors, "Confronting Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer" dispels myths and misinformation and presents practical risk-reducing alternatives and decision-making tools.Including information about genetic counseling and testing, preventive surgery, and fertility and family planning, as well as explanations of health insurance coverage and laws protecting genetic privacy, this resource tackles head-on the challenges of living in a high-risk body. Confronting hereditary cancer is a complex, confusing, and highly individual journey. With its unique combination of the latest research, expert advice, and compelling personal stories, this book gives previvors, survivors, and their family members the guidance they need to face the unique challenges of hereditary cancer.

Since 2002, The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook has been the best resource on this topic for women who have had a mastectomy. Equal parts science and support, it is filled with stories that illustrate the emotional and physical components of breast reconstruction. Kathy Steligo, a gifted writer and breast cancer survivor who has twice had breast reconstruction, compassionately answers women's questions about how they will respond emotionally and physically to losing a breast, whether to treat or prevent breast cancer. Steligo provides detailed descriptions of the various surgical options for mastectomy and reconstruction, as well as information on choosing and paying for a surgeon, preparing for and recovering from surgery, and handling the many practical details and difficult decisions women will face along the way. A road map of the mastectomy and reconstruction journey, this book gives women the comprehensive, unbiased details they need to make their own informed decisions about whether reconstruction-and which reconstructive option-is right for them.Readers learn how breasts can be recreated using implants or their own tissue and the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Surgery timelines, recovery, and potential problems (and how they can be resolved) are also explained. A new foreword by Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, MD, of the PRMA Plastic Surgery Center for Advanced Breast Reconstruction, highlights the book's strengths and offers a medical perspective on breast cancer and reconstructive surgery. The extensively updated text includes new discussions of* innovative reconstructive procedures* contralateral mastectomy* the benefits and limitations of nipple- and areola-sparing mastectomies* nipple delay procedure* patient-controlled tissue expansion* cohesive gel silicone implants* microsurgical advances that improve tissue flap procedures* fat grafting* nipple reconstruction* nipple and areola tattooing* reconstruction with the BRAVA system* pregnancy after TRAM* male mastectomy and reconstruction* decision making and solving cosmetic and medical post-op problems* surgical procedures that reduce the risk of cancer* the latest research data on mastectomy and reconstruction* and much more

The most comprehensive guide available on hereditary cancers, from understanding risk, prevention, and genetic counseling and testing to treatment, quality of life, and more.Up to 10 percent of cancers are caused by inherited mutations in specific genes. Finding out that you or your loved ones may be at increased risk of developing cancer because of a genetic mutation raises a lot of questions: Is cancer inevitable? Is there anything I should do differently in my life? Will my children also be at higher risk of cancer? Should I have preemptive treatments or surgery? This comprehensive guide provides answers to these questions and more. Written by three passionate patient advocates, this book is a compilation of the trusted information and support provided for more than two decades by Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), the de facto voice of the hereditary cancer community. Combining the latest scientific research with national guidelines, expert advice, and compelling patient stories, the book offers previvors (those who have a mutation but have never been diagnosed), survivors, and their families the guidance they need to face the unique physical and emotional challenges of living in a high-risk body.An ideal resource for genetic counselors, physicians, nurses, advocates, and others who support and care for the hereditary cancer community, Living with Hereditary Cancer Risk also provides coverage of • signs of inherited cancer risk in a family;• the value of genetic counseling and testing;• mutations in BRCA, Lynch Syndrome, and other genes that elevate cancer risk; • risk-reducing strategies; • traditional treatments and newer personalized approaches, including immunotherapies and PARP inhibitors; • nationally recommended guidelines for prevention, early detection, and treatment; • insurance coverage and discrimination protections; and• coping with sexual health, fertility, menopause, and other quality of life issues.

The definitive guide to breast reconstruction—now completely revised and updated.For more than twenty years, The Complete Guide to Breast Reconstruction (formerly The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook) has been an essential resource for individuals who are undergoing mastectomy and thinking about breast reconstruction. In this revised edition, two-time breast cancer survivor Kathy Steligo covers the critical information patients need, from finding the right surgeon to weighing options and making informed decisions.Anyone considering a mastectomy faces a perplexing array of issues, questions, and decisions in their treatment options. This updated and expanded edition provides a comprehensive road map of the entire mastectomy and reconstruction experience. Steligo explains the advantages and disadvantages of postmastectomy options, including staying flat, using prostheses, and undergoing reconstruction with breast implants or a patient's own tissue. The extensively updated text includes new information on• The benefits and limitations of traditional versus advanced procedures • How mastectomy affects sensation, scarring, and projection • What to expect from nipple-sparing mastectomy • How reconstruction restores shape, size, and projection• The pros and cons of saline and silicone breast implants • The differences between muscle-sparing and muscle-sacrificing natural tissue reconstruction• Improving results with fat grafting • 3-D nipple tattooing • How radiation therapy impacts reconstruction• Male mastectomy and reconstruction • The physical and emotional effects of surgery and recoveryFeaturing before-and-after patient photos, expert commentaries, and patient stories, this guide describes the mastectomy and reconstructive journey from research to recovery so readers can make informed decisions about what is best for them.

"Be informed. Be empowered. Be well". If you are concerned that the cancer in your family is hereditary, you face difficult choices. Should you have a blood test that may reveal whether you have a high likelihood of disease? Do you preemptively treat a disease that may never develop? How do you make decisions now that will affect the rest of your life? This helpful, informative guide answers your questions as you confront hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Developed by Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), the nation's only nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, this book stands alone among breast and ovarian cancer resources. Equal parts health guide and memoir, it defines complex issues facing previvors and survivors and provides solutions with a fresh, authoritative voice. Written by three passionate advocates for the hereditary cancer community who are themselves breast cancer survivors, "Confronting Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer" dispels myths and misinformation and presents practical risk-reducing alternatives and decision-making tools.Including information about genetic counseling and testing, preventive surgery, and fertility and family planning, as well as explanations of health insurance coverage and laws protecting genetic privacy, this resource tackles head-on the challenges of living in a high-risk body. Confronting hereditary cancer is a complex, confusing, and highly individual journey. With its unique combination of the latest research, expert advice, and compelling personal stories, this book gives previvors, survivors, and their family members the guidance they need to face the unique challenges of hereditary cancer.

For a decade "The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook" has been the best resource on this topic for women who have had a mastectomy. Equal parts science and support, it is filled with stories that illustrate the emotional and physical components of breast reconstruction. Readers will find advice about choosing a doctor and a procedure, insurance and payment issues, how to prepare for surgery, and what to expect during recovery. Expert commentary by physicians and insights from patients inform this book, as does the exhaustive research by the author, a two-time breast cancer survivor who has twice had reconstructive surgery.New in this edition are discussions of: the pros and cons of saline and silicone implants, solutions for post-lumpectomy cosmetic problems, new immediate-delayed reconstruction when post-mastectomy radiation may be required, the benefits and limitations of nipple-sparing mastectomy, considerations for direct-to-implant reconstruction, newly developed tissue flap procedures, who can best apply nipple and areola tattoos and why tattoos may not last, enriching fat with stem cells so it stays in the breast, patient-controlled tissue expansion, and, how insurance and health care reform affect reconstruction.

"Be informed. Be empowered. Be well". If you are concerned that the cancer in your family is hereditary, you face difficult choices. Should you have a blood test that may reveal whether you have a high likelihood of disease? Do you preemptively treat a disease that may never develop? How do you make decisions now that will affect the rest of your life? This helpful, informative guide answers your questions as you confront hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Developed by Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), the nation's only nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, this book stands alone among breast and ovarian cancer resources. Equal parts health guide and memoir, it defines complex issues facing previvors and survivors and provides solutions with a fresh, authoritative voice. Written by three passionate advocates for the hereditary cancer community who are themselves breast cancer survivors, "Confronting Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer" dispels myths and misinformation and presents practical risk-reducing alternatives and decision-making tools.Including information about genetic counseling and testing, preventive surgery, and fertility and family planning, as well as explanations of health insurance coverage and laws protecting genetic privacy, this resource tackles head-on the challenges of living in a high-risk body. Confronting hereditary cancer is a complex, confusing, and highly individual journey. With its unique combination of the latest research, expert advice, and compelling personal stories, this book gives previvors, survivors, and their family members the guidance they need to face the unique challenges of hereditary cancer.

Since 2002, The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook has been the best resource on this topic for women who have had a mastectomy. Equal parts science and support, it is filled with stories that illustrate the emotional and physical components of breast reconstruction. Kathy Steligo, a gifted writer and breast cancer survivor who has twice had breast reconstruction, compassionately answers women's questions about how they will respond emotionally and physically to losing a breast, whether to treat or prevent breast cancer. Steligo provides detailed descriptions of the various surgical options for mastectomy and reconstruction, as well as information on choosing and paying for a surgeon, preparing for and recovering from surgery, and handling the many practical details and difficult decisions women will face along the way. A road map of the mastectomy and reconstruction journey, this book gives women the comprehensive, unbiased details they need to make their own informed decisions about whether reconstruction-and which reconstructive option-is right for them.Readers learn how breasts can be recreated using implants or their own tissue and the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Surgery timelines, recovery, and potential problems (and how they can be resolved) are also explained. A new foreword by Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, MD, of the PRMA Plastic Surgery Center for Advanced Breast Reconstruction, highlights the book's strengths and offers a medical perspective on breast cancer and reconstructive surgery. The extensively updated text includes new discussions of* innovative reconstructive procedures* contralateral mastectomy* the benefits and limitations of nipple- and areola-sparing mastectomies* nipple delay procedure* patient-controlled tissue expansion* cohesive gel silicone implants* microsurgical advances that improve tissue flap procedures* fat grafting* nipple reconstruction* nipple and areola tattooing* reconstruction with the BRAVA system* pregnancy after TRAM* male mastectomy and reconstruction* decision making and solving cosmetic and medical post-op problems* surgical procedures that reduce the risk of cancer* the latest research data on mastectomy and reconstruction* and much more

The most comprehensive guide available on hereditary cancers, from understanding risk, prevention, and genetic counseling and testing to treatment, quality of life, and more.Up to 10 percent of cancers are caused by inherited mutations in specific genes. Finding out that you or your loved ones may be at increased risk of developing cancer because of a genetic mutation raises a lot of questions: Is cancer inevitable? Is there anything I should do differently in my life? Will my children also be at higher risk of cancer? Should I have preemptive treatments or surgery? This comprehensive guide provides answers to these questions and more. Written by three passionate patient advocates, this book is a compilation of the trusted information and support provided for more than two decades by Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), the de facto voice of the hereditary cancer community. Combining the latest scientific research with national guidelines, expert advice, and compelling patient stories, the book offers previvors (those who have a mutation but have never been diagnosed), survivors, and their families the guidance they need to face the unique physical and emotional challenges of living in a high-risk body.An ideal resource for genetic counselors, physicians, nurses, advocates, and others who support and care for the hereditary cancer community, Living with Hereditary Cancer Risk also provides coverage of • signs of inherited cancer risk in a family;• the value of genetic counseling and testing;• mutations in BRCA, Lynch Syndrome, and other genes that elevate cancer risk; • risk-reducing strategies; • traditional treatments and newer personalized approaches, including immunotherapies and PARP inhibitors; • nationally recommended guidelines for prevention, early detection, and treatment; • insurance coverage and discrimination protections; and• coping with sexual health, fertility, menopause, and other quality of life issues.

The definitive guide to breast reconstruction—now completely revised and updated.For more than twenty years, The Complete Guide to Breast Reconstruction (formerly The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook) has been an essential resource for individuals who are undergoing mastectomy and thinking about breast reconstruction. In this revised edition, two-time breast cancer survivor Kathy Steligo covers the critical information patients need, from finding the right surgeon to weighing options and making informed decisions.Anyone considering a mastectomy faces a perplexing array of issues, questions, and decisions in their treatment options. This updated and expanded edition provides a comprehensive road map of the entire mastectomy and reconstruction experience. Steligo explains the advantages and disadvantages of postmastectomy options, including staying flat, using prostheses, and undergoing reconstruction with breast implants or a patient's own tissue. The extensively updated text includes new information on• The benefits and limitations of traditional versus advanced procedures • How mastectomy affects sensation, scarring, and projection • What to expect from nipple-sparing mastectomy • How reconstruction restores shape, size, and projection• The pros and cons of saline and silicone breast implants • The differences between muscle-sparing and muscle-sacrificing natural tissue reconstruction• Improving results with fat grafting • 3-D nipple tattooing • How radiation therapy impacts reconstruction• Male mastectomy and reconstruction • The physical and emotional effects of surgery and recoveryFeaturing before-and-after patient photos, expert commentaries, and patient stories, this guide describes the mastectomy and reconstructive journey from research to recovery so readers can make informed decisions about what is best for them.

"Be informed. Be empowered. Be well". If you are concerned that the cancer in your family is hereditary, you face difficult choices. Should you have a blood test that may reveal whether you have a high likelihood of disease? Do you preemptively treat a disease that may never develop? How do you make decisions now that will affect the rest of your life? This helpful, informative guide answers your questions as you confront hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Developed by Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), the nation's only nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, this book stands alone among breast and ovarian cancer resources. Equal parts health guide and memoir, it defines complex issues facing previvors and survivors and provides solutions with a fresh, authoritative voice. Written by three passionate advocates for the hereditary cancer community who are themselves breast cancer survivors, "Confronting Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer" dispels myths and misinformation and presents practical risk-reducing alternatives and decision-making tools.Including information about genetic counseling and testing, preventive surgery, and fertility and family planning, as well as explanations of health insurance coverage and laws protecting genetic privacy, this resource tackles head-on the challenges of living in a high-risk body. Confronting hereditary cancer is a complex, confusing, and highly individual journey. With its unique combination of the latest research, expert advice, and compelling personal stories, this book gives previvors, survivors, and their family members the guidance they need to face the unique challenges of hereditary cancer.

For a decade "The Breast Reconstruction Guidebook" has been the best resource on this topic for women who have had a mastectomy. Equal parts science and support, it is filled with stories that illustrate the emotional and physical components of breast reconstruction. Readers will find advice about choosing a doctor and a procedure, insurance and payment issues, how to prepare for surgery, and what to expect during recovery. Expert commentary by physicians and insights from patients inform this book, as does the exhaustive research by the author, a two-time breast cancer survivor who has twice had reconstructive surgery.New in this edition are discussions of: the pros and cons of saline and silicone implants, solutions for post-lumpectomy cosmetic problems, new immediate-delayed reconstruction when post-mastectomy radiation may be required, the benefits and limitations of nipple-sparing mastectomy, considerations for direct-to-implant reconstruction, newly developed tissue flap procedures, who can best apply nipple and areola tattoos and why tattoos may not last, enriching fat with stem cells so it stays in the breast, patient-controlled tissue expansion, and, how insurance and health care reform affect reconstruction.