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By Elaine Schattner, MD, on November 7th, 2011
On Friday I visited the Scar Project exhibit at Openhouse, on Mulberry Street just south of Spring. Photographer David Jay offers penetrating, large, wall-mounted images of young people with breast cancer.
The photos reveal women who’ve have had surgery, radiation, reconstruction or partial reconstruction of the breasts. Some are strikingly beautiful. Some appear confused, others confident. Some look right at you, defiant or maybe proud. Some, post-mastectomy, adopt frankly or strangely sexual postures. Others hide a breast, or turn away from the lens.
This collection is not for everyone. The photos of ravaged bodies of women with cancer might be upsetting, if not frankly disturbing, to some who look at them. Not everyone chooses to do so.
The women’s scars and expressions are telling. Though not representative, these images reflect wounds not often-shown in medical journals, or elsewhere.
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Related Posts:More News On Lymph Nodes and Breast Cancer SurgeryNew NY State Law on Information for Women Undergoing MastectomyStudy Finds Wide Variation in Reoperation Rates after Lumpectomy for Breast CancerA Note on the Komen Fiasco1 in 70 Women Develops Breast Cancer Before Reaching 50 Years
By Elaine Schattner, MD, on February 18th, 2011
 The FDA recently identified a link between breast implants and a rare form of lymphoma. From today’s report in the New York Times:
When talking to patients about a rare type of cancer linked to breast implants, plastic surgeons should call it “a condition” and avoid using the words cancer, tumor, disease or malignancy, the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons advised members during an online seminar on Feb. 3.
This is how doctors spoke to patients 50 and 100 years ago, and in some cultures still do, by not mentioning scary words – especially to women, and not calling a cancer what it is.
Cosmetic verbage?
Most cancers aren’t lethal* is one message for 2011: the “big C” turns out to be a spectrum of hundreds of diseases, each with distinct subtypes, and patients shouldn’t panic when they hear the word. Some are benign in behavior although technically malignant; others behave live chronic illnesses;
See more Stunning Comments on the Risk of Breast Implants, and Cancer
By Elaine Schattner, MD, on January 28th, 2011
I have to admit that when I first read about the FDA’s report tying rare cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma to breast implants, my mind raced with a strange blend of excitement, intense interest and concern. My thoughts shifted from “wow, that’s really interesting” to “exactly what did the FDA find” to “should I be worried?“
So I’ve decided to write this morning’s post from my perspective as an oncologist
See more An Oncologist Considers Rare Lymphomas in Women With Breast Implants
By Elaine Schattner, MD, on January 27th, 2011
 It’s a Pandora’s box, but one that needs be opened. The problem is that if we biopsy every abnormality – such as a minor thickening or fluid accumulation adjacent to a breast implant – we’ll hike up the costs and, more importantly, the complications associated: With every needle stick there’s a risk of infection, additional scar formation and more. On the other hand, you wouldn’t want to overlook a treatable, early-stage lymphoma. Women need to know of the risks of implants, which can only be determined if doctors thoroughly investigate these sorts of complications.
See more FDA Reports on Association of Breast Implants and a Rare Form of Lymphoma
By Elaine Schattner, MD, on October 26th, 2010
 The cover of the November print edition of Wired features large, unnatural-appearing cleavage. Inside and toward the back of the issue, a curious article ties together stem cells and the future of breast reconstruction. It got my attention.
Wired, November 2010 issue
The detailed and admittedly interesting piece, by Sharon Begley, describes what’s science or science fiction: first humans, such as some plastic surgeons, remove adipose tissue, a.k.a. fat, by a well-established cosmetic surgery procedure called liposuction, from a body part where there’s a fat surplus — such as the belly or backside; next, laboratory workers purify and grow what are said to be stem cells from that that fat; finally, they use a nifty, calibrated and expensive device to inject those fatty stem cells where women want, such as in a hole or dimpled breast where a tumor’s been removed.
The story starts, unfortunately and distractingly, with a portrait of a male, enterprising and PowerPoint presentation-giving CEO
See more Stem Cells, Breast Reconstruction and a Magazine Cover
By Elaine Schattner M.D., on August 18th, 2010
The reality is that many women, particularly poor women without newspapers or internet access in their homes, don’t know about any of this. They don’t know their insurance covers pretty much all of these options, by law. Now they will, or should as of Jan 1, 2011. Good. The other curiosity is that …
See more New NY State Law on Information for Women Undergoing Mastectomy
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