DiepCJourney Podcast

Mollie Sugarman is the Clinical Director of the Patient Empowerment Program at NYBRA (New York Breast Reconstruction Aesthetic) Plastic Surgery in Great Neck, New York.

In this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast, Mollie outlines the integrative care approach in a patient's breast reconstruction journey.

Mollie discusses the benefits of the program to the patients, caregivers, and their surgical team. The Patient Empowerment Program is designed to involve those who surround the breast cancer patient to support them in various ways honoring each patient based on their individual needs.

Sharon Bober, PhD, Psychologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, chats with us on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast about sexual health for cancer patients.

Sharon is also the chair of the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer.

Nichole Owens is a young breast cancer survivor who chose implant breast reconstruction. She is also Chief Marketing Officer at GRYT Health. Nichole share her personal story on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.

She joined GRYT Health and shares with us the important information about the GRYT Global Virtual Cancer Conference held each year to empower patients with resources, information, and interactive sessions covering a variety of topics for cancer patients.

Breast cancer does not discriminate, either globally or by gender. Our guest on the DiepCJourney podcast is male breast cancer survivor and fierce advocate from Australia, Rod Ritchie.

Education is an important part of his work. Please go to MaleBreastCancer.org for resources, awareness, and Rod's important manifesto.

Ginter Hultin, MD RDN, is our guest on Episode 21 of the DiepCJourney podcast. Ginger is a published author and Seattle-based registered dietitian nutritionist who owns Champagne Nutrition®.

Her books, Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep and How to Eat to Beat Disease Cookbook can help you prepare meals and understand the nutritional value and healing mechanisms of diet for those affected by breast cancer or healing from breast surgery.

Dana Donofree is a woman who had breast cancer at a young age. She transformed her professional career into a business to serve women who have undergone breast surgery due to breast cancer on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.

Dana created Ana Ono Intimates and the mantra is, "We recognize not all breasts are (re)created equal." She designs bras and intimate apparel to help women regain a sense of comfort and being beautiful in their own skin after being affected by breast cancer.

Dr. David Light MD, of NYBRA Plastic Surgery, discusses delayed and revision breast reconstruction on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.

We talk about ERAS protocol, telemedicine, traveling for reconstruction, and the shared decision-making protocols Dr. Light and his colleagues practice daily with patients to empower them to make their own best and personal decision about breast reconstruction when they are affected by breast cancer.

Sharing your story as a breast cancer survivor on social media requires authenticity, creativity, vulnerability with a keen knowledge of navigating the responsibility of telling stories that will benefit the reader.

My guest on the DiepCJourney podcast is Marie Ennis O'Connor. She guides many breast cancer patient writers as a social media consultant, keynote speaker and digital storyteller. Her creative work can be found at Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer. Her work spans the globe and her impact creating a cross continental family of writers is immeasurable.

Caregivers are called upon in the most unexpected ways through disease, an accident, surgery, or treatment. This is the story and Journey of a thousand miles, two breast cancer diagnoses, multiple surgeries, and the story of how my son, Brian, taught me more about this role and what it means to be a compassionate caregiver.

On episode 17 of the DiepCJourney podcast, we reflect on how our family came to know the role of caregiver more than once. We share our poignant stories and a few good Journeys along the way honoring our Texas surgeons at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo of PRMA.

When a woman or man faces a mastectomy due to breast cancer they have options to reconstruct their breast. The options include using an implant or a using the patient's own tissue known as autologous breast reconstruction. Dr. Steven Pisano of PRMA (Plastic Reconstructive Microsurgical Associates) in San Antonio, Texas discusses all the options and why some women chose no reconstruction in Episode 16 of the DiepCJourney Podcast.

There is no one best option and the choice should be made in a shared decision-making conversation with the surgeon.