I was diagnosed in 2004. My only child had just moved away to go to college and on his first weekend home I found out I had breast cancer. There were a lot more adjustments than I had planned for. This disease changed my life for the better. I have so much to be grateful… Continue Reading »
There are 2 things in my life that I never thought I would do–be diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 45 and pose in some French lingerie for a photograph. In fact, both of these events were so foreign to me that not only did I need to do research about breast cancer, I… Continue Reading »
My mother’s story of breast cancer and reconstruction is far different from mine. She didn’t know if she had cancer until she woke up from surgery and felt her chest. Her breast was gone. Reconstruction was difficult at best, as a radical mastectomy left little to work with. After years of “pulling herself” off the… Continue Reading »
I will never forget the years of 2004 and 2005, as they were marked by cancer diagnosis tempered with the joy of becoming engaged and getting married. In July 2004 I became engaged to my now husband: a wonderful, charismatic, funny, intelligent, and I must say handsome Englishman (think Ralph Fiennes or a Daniel Craig… Continue Reading »
Upon finding out I had breast cancer, my sister-in-law told me, “Karen, you will get through this and everything will be fine.” These words carried me through my diagnosis, surgery, and reconstruction. How wise Ruth was.
At 45, I was diagnosed with infiltrating and ductal carcinoma in situ in my left breast in June of 2005. The month of June was spent meeting my new doctors (oncologist, breast specialist and plastic surgeon) and having many, many tests. I had never had surgery or a hospital stay before, and I hated needles. … Continue Reading »
“Never say never, and we all live in glass houses!” I was very fortunate in my diagnosis of DCIS. I was diligent in getting my mammogram yearly, which I believe was one–if not the most important–reason why I am a breast cancer survivor today. I was extremely blessed to have been employed by two of the… Continue Reading »
When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, it was like being thrown into a whirlwind. I had to make very quick decisions in order to save my life. Having the bilateral mastectomies with TRAM reconstruction was my choice. And in hind sight, it has made me the most confident I’ve ever been in my… Continue Reading »
“A ticking time bomb.” That’s what I thought every time I had to schedule an annual mammogram or bi-yearly breast exam and ultrasound. I was at high risk for developing breast cancer—my mother was diagnosed with the disease at 44 and died when she was only 50. In my mind, it wasn’t a matter of… Continue Reading »
Say HELLO to HALO at Artisan Plastic Surgery! Looking to prolong your summer glow while also diminishing the signs of aging and sun damage? Now you can at Artisan Plastic Surgery! We are thrilled to announce that we are now offering the Halo laser which gives our patients beautiful results without the downtime often associated… Continue Reading »