The prospect of breast reconstruction surgery following a cancer diagnosis can be a cause of significant anxiety for many women.
Concerns over what may happen during, and after, surgery can be a worry and trigger a whole range of unanswered questions.
With a number of different reconstruction techniques available to breast surgeons, there are often several options and choices women face.
Offering reassurance
Independent information available to patients in this position varies but a unique resource being provided by breast cancer reconstruction charity, Keeping Abreast, is offering comfort and reassurance at what is a difficult time.
Launched in Norwich in 2007, Keeping Abreast now has support groups across the country with several in the eastern region and has produced a range of videos to help guide breast cancer patients through their reconstructive surgery options, to offer an insight into what they may face, and deliver a degree of reassurance.
The charity’s online resources for breast cancer patients facing reconstructive surgery have recently been expanded, with four new real-life breast reconstruction videos having been added to the Keeping Abreast website (www.keepingabreast.org.uk).
Aimed at women facing breast reconstruction after a breast cancer diagnosis or the discovery of a hereditary breast cancer gene, the new videos have been add to around a dozen different real-life reconstruction videos on the site.
All have been created with the help of Keeping Abreast volunteers, who have shown their reconstruction results on camera to support others undergoing a similar process.
Individual experience
In addition, each volunteer recounts their own individual experience of breast cancer and breast reconstruction.
The footage and the first-hand accounts have been recorded to help others going through breast reconstruction understand what lies ahead and allay their fears.
The four new real-life videos cover the reconstruction techniques known as the IGAP, which sees a new breast created from the patient’s lower buttocks; the Lateral Thigh (LT) Flap, where the new breast mound is created from the outer thigh area; implant reconstruction; and preventative double mastectomy and implant reconstruction surgery following the discovery of a hereditary breast cancer gene.
Other videos on the website show reconstruction procedures such as DIEP Flaps - using tissue from the tummy area to recreate a breast mound; a PAP Flap – using tissue from the inner thigh; and a LAP Flap – using tissue from the lower back.
Often, several different reconstruction options are available to patients and these real-life videos can help them make an informed decision about which type of reconstruction is right for them.
Louise Harrison from Wymondham, who underwent a left-side mastectomy and LT Flap reconstruction, said: “I was happy to help with the videos as I feel that it’s really important for those considering or undergoing breast surgery to have as much information as possible to help them to make a decision.
“It can be a tricky decision to make; for me personally I know that seeing real-life videos/photos of the type of surgery would have been really helpful as I was undecided whether or not to proceed.”
Real-life reconstruction
On a personal level, Louise felt it was important to participate in the videos and support the charity which helped her make a decision about breast reconstruction.
Keeping Abreast’s business development manager Kerry Kemp believes the charity is the only organisation offering such real-life reconstruction videos, and points to their wider benefits.
“Not only do they benefit those who are considering, facing or going through breast reconstruction after a breast cancer diagnosis, but they are also useful for the patients’ partners, friends and family, as they can listen to what other patients have been through and see their surgery results, and their scars, for themselves,” she said.
The idea of real-life reconstruction videos emerged during the Covid pandemic when patients were unable to participate in the charity’s face-to-face support groups to see real-life breast reconstruction results in person.
The videos have since proved an enormous success and have been viewed thousands of times by patients, highlighting the demand for the service and motivating Keeping Abreast to produce further specialist videos to show even more types of reconstruction surgery.
Outdoor challenge
The latest videos have been produced by Norfolk-based creative communications agency, Production Bureau, and funded by Art For Cure as well as by Keeping Abreast volunteer Amelia Gammon who was supported by the charity when she underwent a bilateral mastectomy and immediate implant reconstruction.
She set herself an outdoor challenge in Italy - including swimming, cycling and canoeing - and raised £14,100, with funds financing some of the new videos, as well as other resources for the charity, including Pink Packs that offer information and Comfort & Care Bags which are provided to breast cancer reconstruction patients post-surgery.
“I found the videos were such an important part of me coming to terms with having a double mastectomy and reconstruction,” added Amelia.
Meanwhile, Carmel O’Rourke from Lancashire found the charity was “very supportive and helpful” when she underwent a bilateral mastectomy and IGAP reconstruction.
“As I had an unusual reconstruction I wanted to be involved in the Keeping Abreast video project to inform people about the process and the results achieved,” she said.
There is also a video featuring Keeping Abreast volunteer Chloe Saunders talking about her decision to have risk-reducing surgery following the discovery of a hereditary BRCA2 gene mutation.
Chloe, who attends the Herts & Beds Support Group, had a bilateral mastectomy and immediate implant reconstruction.
“I came across the charity on Instagram and attended a meeting that evening and it changed my journey for the better,” she continued. “I finally had people who understood my diagnosis and my journey and explained everything I needed to know.
“So, when the opportunity came along to support the charity and other women facing reconstruction by filming a real-life show and tell, I jumped at the opportunity to tell my story, show my reconstruction and help other women feel supported in their decision, as I did in my very first meeting.”
Positive feedback
Patients don’t show their faces in the videos, just their chest areas and donor sites, but several participants have reflected on what a positive experience taking part has been for them.
In a message to Production Bureau, Louise Harrison said: “Thanks so much to you and your team for making me feel so relaxed and comfortable during the filming.
“I know the videos are going to be such a great resource for those considering - and going through - breast reconstruction.”
*The videos can be found on the Keeping Abreast website at www.keepingabreast.org.uk under the ‘Reconstruction Support’ tab and the ‘Reconstruction Support Videos’.
KEEPING ABREAST
Keeping Abreast was established in Norwich in September 2007 by patients Anna Beckingham and Beverley Birritteri and Breast Reconstruction Nurse Specialist Ruth Harcourt after they recognised a need for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and facing the possibility of mastectomy, or those further down the line considering reconstructive surgery, to be able to meet and talk to others who have been through similar experiences. Today, Keeping Abreast has support groups in Norwich, King’s Lynn, Herts & Beds, Leicester, Cheltenham, Bristol & Bath and Liverpool as well as outreach groups in Stalham, Wymondham and Gorleston, together with a national network of volunteers who support others over the phone or via email or WhatsApp. The charity also has a closed Facebook community, Keeping Abreast Online Support Group UK.
For further information, visit: www.keepingabreast.org.uk, call: 01603 819113 or email: info@keepingabreast.org.uk
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