BRA Day events reveal truth about breast reconstruction surgery

While breast cancer awareness has risen dramatically in recent decades, some aspects of the diseaseremain less-widely discussed.

BRADay,an acronym for Breast Reconstruction Awareness,is being held in hospitals around the regionwith the aim of demystifying breast reconstruction surgery.

The information-sharing session is mainly for women considering reconstruction. It includes presentations from women who have been thereand a chance to see the results of different surgeries. Last year40breast reconstruction surgeries were performed at hospitals at the Saint John Regional Hospital and St. Joseph's.

"It was unrecognisable"

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Janel Clark will 'show and tell' her experience with reconstructive surgery at the BRA Day event in Saint John. Dr. Margie Wheelock is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with Horizon.Janel Clark discovered she had cancer after developing mastitis while nursing her second child.

Since the hardness from the condition never completely disappeared, she was continually screened and eventually diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. She had a breast reconstruction after a partial mastectomy.

"It was unrecognisable afterward, like an empty balloon," said Clark, who was caring for a baby and a 2-year-oldduring her recovery.

"It was terrifying," she said. "Your mind immediately races to what's going to happen to them if something happens to me."

Clarksaid choosing whether to undergo a breast reconstruction was a really hard decision for her.Although her prosthesis was aesthetically fine, she was never able to fully get used to it slipping around while she was wearing it.

"I thought I was being selfish," she said.

"[Reconstruction] wasn't a necessary surgery in my mind. But it was necessaryfor my full recovery and my emotional stability, and just being able to keep up with my kids and not worry if my prosthesis was going to fall out."

"It was for my peace of mind, and to feel normal again," said Clark.

A personal choice

Dr. Margie Wheelock says the process for many women is "very individual."

Some women don't want reconstruction, she said, for reasons including further health risks, the downtime associated with the surgery, and what it may look like afterward.

As well, "some women aren't eligible for the procedures," said Wheelock.

Since Clark's only treatment was the mastectomy, "it was easy to hide that I had gone through anything."

As a result, she said, she ended up dealing with much of her illness by herself.

"After my last surgery I thought I was going to be excited and full of energy," she said. "Actually, I was really tired. But I'm getting better and better every day."

While she's slightly nervous about the show-and-tell aspect of the BRADay event, she's also encouraged at the prospect of helping other women know they aren't going through the process alone.

Imparting hope, realism

Clarke saidshe would have been helped by "understanding what it would look like when it was done and hear some of the stories of what the recovery would be like."

"BRADay gets the information out there," said Wheelock.

"Breast reconstruction isn't right for every woman, but they need the information to make that choice for themselves."

Further, hearing from fellow survivors can often be more powerful thantalking to doctors.

"It gives them a sense of what it means to women who have actually gone through it," said Wheelock.

"We encourage them to say not just the good things about reconstruction, but also the issues they had and what the recovery was like."

If there's a single message BRADay organizers hope to impart, saidClark, it's a simple one: "There's always hope."

BRADay happens onOct. 19 at 7 p.m.at the Saint John Regional Hospital in the classroom at 5 D North. Refreshments will be served; men are also welcome to attend.

A similar event will be held in Fredericton onOct. 20 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital.