Download the entire report here. The data analysis is in from our “Going Flat After Mastectomy Survey 2018.” Many thanks to those who participated in this important work! Addressing the Data Deficit on Flat Closure There is little to no data in the existing body of scientific literature that specifically addresses the quality of lifeContinue reading “NPoaS Survey 2018 Report”
Category Archives: Articles
Should I Confront My Surgeon?
Confronting Your Surgeon After Flat Denial: A Personal Choice Preface by NPoaS Founder, Kim Bowles If you have been a victim of flat denial, I wrote this for you. Before we delve into the issue of confronting your surgeon, I want to make sure that you hear this: You’re not alone; This is not your fault;Continue reading “Should I Confront My Surgeon?”
Aesthetic Results Matter to Male Patients Too
Just before the holiday, the BBC published an article featuring a UK man, Peter Bagnall, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and was denied surgery to produce a symmetric aesthetic result, causing him immense emotional distress. Men represent less than 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses, but that number represents thousands of men every yearContinue reading “Aesthetic Results Matter to Male Patients Too”
Focus on Flat Closure Techniques
Awareness Continues to Spread Word continues to spread among the surgical community that patients going flat after mastectomy expect their choice to be given the care and consideration it deserves – the same level that is afforded to the choice to reconstruct. Patients going flat expect a high-quality flat closure in one surgery whenever possible.Continue reading “Focus on Flat Closure Techniques”
What Flat Denial Is, and Is Not
We would like to clear up any confusion about what flat denial is, and what it is not. We want to directly address the conflation of minor cosmetic defects with the egregious results that constitute flat denial, as well as the conflation of women who were on the fence about reconstruction with those who madeContinue reading “What Flat Denial Is, and Is Not”
Patient Advocate Sandee: “We all need advocates to help us speak our truths”
Editor: Not Putting on a Shirt believes that women shouldn’t have to take extraordinary measures to ensure that their choice to go flat is respected. Unfortunately, we live in a world where paternalism is still endemic. Sandee’s patients in Qatar are lucky to have someone knowledgeable and bold acting on their behalf to protect them,Continue reading “Patient Advocate Sandee: “We all need advocates to help us speak our truths””
Rebecca’s Choice: Going Flat with Radical Self-Acceptance
Editor: While every woman’s story is unique, the contrast between the post-operative experiences of women who choose to go flat whose decision was respected, versus those whose wishes were not respected, is stark. Going flat can feel freeing and empowering, but when a woman’s choice is stolen from her, she experiences it as a lossContinue reading “Rebecca’s Choice: Going Flat with Radical Self-Acceptance”
Guidelines for Victims of Flat Denial: Navigating the Aftermath
Not Putting on a Shirt has written new guidelines to help victims of flat denial navigate the aftermath of this traumatic experience. The guidelines include: Taking care of your emotional well-being Ensuring that you receive proper medical care Considering revision surgery Finding a new surgeon Steps you can take to get justice You can access form lettersContinue reading “Guidelines for Victims of Flat Denial: Navigating the Aftermath”
How to Ensure You Get an Acceptable Surgical Result: Guidelines for Patients
Not Putting on a Shirt has created an informational brochure (UPDATED!) for patients who have chosen to go flat after mastectomy, to help patients protect themselves from flat denial. Every patient deserves to have the cosmetic result that they choose following mastectomy, and to have that done in one surgery whenever possible. Since right now it’s aContinue reading “How to Ensure You Get an Acceptable Surgical Result: Guidelines for Patients”
“Going flat doesn’t mean just breast removal… it means being flat and having a nice chest contour” – Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo
DiepCFoundation patient advocate Terri Coutee has written an insightful article from the perspective of a woman who chose reconstruction, and who advocates for educating patients about their reconstruction options. She read about flat denial in Catherine Guthrie’s Cosmopolitan article and was saddened by the victimization and trauma that the women featured were describing. Terri remembers howContinue reading ““Going flat doesn’t mean just breast removal… it means being flat and having a nice chest contour” – Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo”