DiepCJourney Podcast

On this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast I interview microsurgeons specific to and practicing at The Guys and St. Thomas. It is a hospital that is part of the NHS (National Health System) Trust in London, United Kingdom. These microsurgeons all work in an integrative setting for breast cancer patients and those affected by breast cancer with a genetic mutation placing them at higher risk of getting breast cancer. We talk about the process of offering all options of breast reconstruction for their patients, lymphedema surgery, working with patients of color and the affects melanated skin has on scars, the advantages, and disadvantages of social media in breast reconstruction, and what it means to be part of this team of microsurgeons working together for patients. The following surgeons can be found on LinkedIn: Mark Ho-Asjoe Ken Otuoke Maleeha Mughal Paul Roblin Marlene See Dr. Pari Mohanna's iformation can be found here: Pari-Naz Mohanna, Consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon

Hil Moss is our guest on Season 2, Episode 5 of the DiepCJourney Podcast. A young breast cancer survivor (diagnosed at 28), Hil is an active patient advocate, mentor, and writer in the cancer community, and dedicates her time to raising awareness around the importance of early detection and longitudinal survivorship care. She is also an MBA/MPH Candidate at Yale University, with a focus on entrepreneurship & innovation in cancer care. She made the choice to leverage her own tissue to reconstruct her breasts having DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Hil shares her story from diagnosis, breast reconstruction, and through to her recovery. She shares her connection to the Breasties community and the advocacy work they share. Our call to action is to begin doing breast self-exams at an early age. A breast self-exam for breast awareness helps you understand at an early age the changes in your breasts tissue that includes the look and feel of your breasts. Breast cancer does not discriminate, even for young women. Beginning BSE (breast self-exams) at the age of 20 is recommended especially because younger women's breasts tend to present with more dense tissue, making it difficult to see lumps on a mammogram.

Zack Varkaris is a trained molecular biologist that has spent the last few years working on fertility issues for menopausal women and together with the rest of the Austin Biotec team has developed the concept of Freudenspanne©️ This is our topic on Season 2, episode 4 of the DiepCJourney podcast. I found Zack to be a philosopher of life. A creative individual who faces each day with his inquisitive, passionate nature, Zack has authored the book, The Veveliss Chronicles: The Crescent and the Cross. Who we meet in life, how we live our life, the foods we put in our body, exercise, our attitudes as we move through life changing events shapes our outlook and ability to deal with those changes. This was a fascinating conversation I will be listening to myself again to absorb the richness of this conversation.

Can you imagine hearing the words, "You have breast cancer" at the age of thirty? This is a time when many young women are planning their careers, starting a family, and fitting in travel plans and time with family. Ghecemy Lopez, DSW, MA Ed, was that young woman. Season 2 of the DiepCJourney podcast promises stories of strong advocate voices. Dr. Lopez is one of them. She is now the Program Manager and Lead Patient Navigator for the Ronnie Lippin Cancer Support and Navigation Program at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Lopez's life changing moment when she was diagnosed became a pivotal moment in her career as she turned to advocacy to listen to and support those who reach out to her to help them through their breast cancer diagnosis and survivorship. We celebrate with her the 11th year anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis and hear the joy in her words as she offers others her time, with her heart. You can find Ghecemy on Facebook as she shares her advocacy tips and events for others on Facebook.

Dr. Don Dizon is our guest on seasons 2, episode 2 of the DiepCJourney podcast. What are we discussing? Sexual health needs after cancer, a topic patients often have to bring up to discuss with health care providers. Dr. Dizon tells us why this is the case, and empowers patients with information to talk about with specialists in cancer care regarding sexual health after cancer. Dr. Dizon is Director of the Pelvic Malignancies Program and Founder of the Sexual Health First Responders Program, Lifespan Cancer Institute Professor of Medicine at Brown University Providence, RI.

We are kicking off Season 2 with Episode 1 of the DiepCJourney podcast with Dr. Joe Dusseldorp, an internationally trained microsurgeon who performs DIEP flap breast reconstruction in Sydney, Australia. I first listened to Dr. Dusseldorp in his inspiring TEDx talk entitled, "Personalizing medicine - how technology is making the incurable curable". His passion for patient outcomes is apparent in this interview as he describes his work and how breast reconstruction awareness in Australia has become an important part of his mission.

As we wrap up season 1 of the DiepCJourney podcast for 2021, we look back to our most downloaded episode with guest Minas Chrysopoulo, MD, FACS discussing the value of ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) protocol. This is a powerful discussion about ERAS and how it is used across other healthcare specialties to shorten hospital stay, requiring less narcotics, and improve recovery for patients. This is definitely worth listening to again, or downloading to empower patients considering breast reconstruction surgery or for those who might be having another surgery.

As we come to the end of the first season of the DiepCJourney podcast, I am honored to interview my guest, Gareth Presch. Gareth is a global healthcare thought leader and the Founder and CEO of the World Health Innovation Summit. He is the Expert Lead on SDG3/4 for the UNGSII Foundation, Founder of the Global Social Prescribing Alliance, and a Member of Pope Francis's Vatican COVID19 Commission Group 2 Looking to the Future. We discuss building communities of trust in the healthcare sector promoting consistent, patient-centered care through implementation of SDG3, Good Health and Well-Being.