Letter Writing Campaign

Dear Dr. ________:

I was your patient for a single mastectomy with Aesthetic Flat Closure (AFC) on July 5, 2022, and I’ve been living happily “half” flat ever since. Knowing your commitment to patient-centered care, I’d like to request that you consider featuring My Choice: AFC patient educational brochures in your clinical practice (sample included). These brochures are already in over 60 breast clinics nationwide, and you too can lead the way informing your patients about going flat as a valid, healthy and beautiful mastectomy choice!

I consider myself lucky that you were my assigned surgeon – you listened to me, respected my wishes for Aesthetic Flat Closure, and provided me with the outcome I envisioned without me having to fight for it or endure additional revision surgeries. The idea of breast implants never sat well with me; it was a journey, however, to get to the point where I felt I had enough information to make an educated decision. No doctor had informed me that Aesthetic Flat Closure is a safe and valid post-mastectomy option, nor did any doctor discuss anything but breast reconstruction. The options presented to me all centered around breast implants (e.g., saline or silicone?), and the only way I found out about Aesthetic Flat Closure was by reaching out to my nurse navigator to discuss my discomfort with breast implants. It would have been hugely helpful and time-saving if a doctor had informed me about Aesthetic Flat Closure during the initial consultation!

To order My Choice: AFC brochures free of charge, simply visit the website http://www.AestheticFlatClosure.com/Brochures and fill out the short order form. Alternatively, I am happy to deliver brochures during my next appointment.

I appreciate your dedication to patient-centered care and ensuring that your mastectomy patients receive all the information they need to make an informed choice!

Dear Dr. ________,

In 2018 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I knew nothing about cancer, its treatment, or the life-altering path I was on. Typically, I’m a well-researched person, but I was so afraid and everything was happening so fast. I relied on my cancer team for information, education, and guidance. From the start, I felt I was in good hands.

Within weeks of diagnosis, I had a double mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction. Unfortunately, it soon became apparent I would need additional reconstruction surgeries. As these decisions affect the rest of my life, I was grateful to have more time to consider my situation. In this time, I learned about Aesthetic Flat Closure (AFC) and have been living life happily flat ever since. The thing is, I learned about AFC from other breast cancer patients and advocates, not my doctors.  Going flat was not presented to me as an option when discussing mastectomy. Since going flat, I’ve learned that too many women say the same. Having a smooth, flat chest wall, faster/easier recovery, and decreased need for future surgeries was the best reconstruction option for me. I wish I had known about AFC in 2018.

As an Oncologist, I understand that the surgical side of breast cancer is not your responsibility. However, being part of a cancer team dedicated to the patient and shared decision making, I imagine a mastectomy conversation may come up. Women having oncological treatment before mastectomy have a period of time that provides an opportunity to fully consider all their post-mastectomy options. Knowing your commitment to patient centered care, I’d like to request you feature My Choice: AFC patient educational brochures in your clinical practice (sample included). These brochures are already in over 60 breast clinics nationwide. You, too, can lead the way to ensuring your patients are aware that going flat is a valid and healthy post mastectomy choice!

I’ve enclosed a copy of the My Choice: AFC brochure in both English and Spanish. To order more brochures, free of charge, simply visit the website www.AestheticFlatClosure.com/Brochures and fill out the short order form and they will be mailed to you.

In the 4+ years that you’ve been my Oncologist, I have grown to trust and appreciate you. You have always taken the time to listen to and more importantly, hear me. Thank you. That means everything to me.

Dear Dr. _____

I was your patient for a double mastectomy in 2015 and had implant reconstruction with Dr. ________. After 5 years I explanted and was surprised to learn one implant was badly ruptured, and that my pectoral muscles had been drastically cut in a way that I had never completely understood going into surgery. I still have a large animation deformity. Like thousands of other women, my decision to reconstruct was not a fully informed decision. After explanting I felt immediate relief from constant discomfort and stress. I could breathe freely and fully. I could think more clearly and am much happier. I have never regretted explanting, do not use prostheses, and do not feel self-conscious about being flat.

Knowing your commitment to patient centered care, I’d like to request that you consider featuring My Choice: AFC patient educational brochures in your clinical practice (sample included). These brochures are already in over 60 breast clinics nationwide, and you too can lead the way informing your patients about going flat as a valid, healthy and beautiful mastectomy choice!

To order My Choice: AFC brochures free of charge, simply visit the website http://www.AestheticFlatClosure.com/Brochures and fill out the short order form. On this site you will find additional resources, including links to websites that show many excellent photos of aesthetic flat closure!

Thank you. I appreciate your dedication to patient-centered care and ensuring that your mastectomy patients receive all the information they need to make an informed choice!

Dear Dr. ________

I was your patient in 2021 for a preventive double mastectomy after receiving my BRCA1+ diagnosis. My positive experience has led me to request that you consider featuring My Choice: AFC patient educational brochures in your clinical practice (sample included). These brochures are already in over 60 breast clinics nationwide and you too can lead the way informing your patients about going flat as a valid, healthy & beautiful mastectomy choice!

Since having my aesthetic flat closure, I have felt more in control of my life and body. This is in large part due to the result and support I received from you. From informing me of all my options in regards to reconstruction to agreeing that a flat closure was my best choice to providing me with an aesthetic flat closure. I want all women faced with the decision of having a mastectomy to continue to have all the options presented to them.

To order My Choice: AFC brochures free of charge, simply visit the website www.AestheticFlatClosure.com/Brochures and fill out the short order form.

I appreciate your dedication to patient-centered care and ensuring that your mastectomy patients receive all the information they need to make an informed choice!

Sincerely,

Hey there Dr. __________! I have been your patient since 2019 for breast cancer and a double mastectomy with aesthetic flat closure. I just want you to know how happy I am with this type of closure. Knowing how committed you are to patient centered care, I’d like to request that you consider featuring My Choice: AFC patient educational brochures in your clinical practices (sample included). These brochures are already in over 60 breast clinics nationwide, and you too can help lead the way informing your patients about going flat as a valid, healthy and beautiful mastectomy choice!

As a woman who had never been comfortable with having large breasts, aesthetic flat closure was my choice. After diagnosis I took a deep dive on the internet to see reconstruction options that would fit my lifestyle. I knew instantly that I just wanted to only have one surgery, not multiple as with reconstruction with implants. I was surprised to learn about Breast Implant Illness and its negative effects on the body. AFC was a healthier and viable option for me that should be shared with all women facing this disease. While researching, I came upon top surgery (female to male). Even though this surgery may be similar, when removing cancer the overall look will be different and this should be discussed. Since my mastectomy with AFC, I feel
that women should be presented with all the facts and option choices of all reconstruction types, not just sent to meet a plastic surgeon who only does breast implants. Aesthetic Flat Closure is a reconstruction type that has changed my life for the better.

If you would like to order My Choice: AFC brochures free of charge, simply visit http://www.AestheticFlatClosure.com/brochures and fill out the short order form.

Thank you for your dedication to patient centered care and ensuring that your mastectomy patients receive all the information they need to make an informed choice!

Sincerely,

Dear Dr. ___________

I was your patient in 2017 for a double mastectomy with no breast reconstruction (now called “aesthetic flat closure” (NCI, 2020). My experience with you was positive; you respected my choice to go flat and even offered to bring on a plastic surgeon so that I would have an optimal aesthetic outcome. While that did not ultimately work out as planned (he did not remove all of the excess skin as agreed), it’s no reflection on you or your patient centered approach. It did, however, propel me to become a patient advocate and form a non-profit organization, Not Putting on a Shirt, which provides guidance and support to thousands of women facing mastectomy. Too often though, women only find us after post-mastectomy complications. Fortunately, that is changing!

Knowing both your commitment to patient centered care and Cleveland Clinic’s commitment to “Patients First,” I’d like to request that you consider featuring My Choice: AFC patient educational brochures in your clinical practice (sample included). These brochures are already in over 60 breast clinics nationwide, and you too can lead the way informing your patients about going flat as a valid, healthy and beautiful mastectomy choice!

The brochures centralize resources containing all of the information and tools that I wish I had when I was facing the surgical choice myself. Having the brochure will streamline the research process for your patients and empower them to advocate for their choice. Every patient deserves to be fully informed about all of their surgical options, including aesthetic flat closure.

To order My Choice: AFC brochures free of charge, simply visit the website http://www.AestheticFlatClosure.com/Brochures and fill out the short order form.

I appreciate your dedication to quality care and ensuring that your mastectomy patients receive all the information they need to make an informed choice!

Dear Dr. __________,

I was your patient in 2019 for a double mastectomy with aesthetic flat closure. Knowing your commitment to patient centered care, I’d like to request that you consider featuring the enclosed ‘My Choice: AFC’ patient educational brochures in your clinical practice. These brochures are already in over 60 breast clinics nationwide, and you too can lead the way informing your patients about going flat as a valid, healthy and beautiful mastectomy choice.

As you are aware, many women have questions regarding what to do. I also know first-hand these questions come with no easy answers. But it starts with understanding that there is no one-size-fits-all with what course to take post mastectomy. Unfortunately, many breast surgeons still favor breast reconstruction. This message essentially tally’s that breasts are essential. For me, this was like being in the eye of a storm, with all the questions whirling around deciding on the best course of action.

The decision to pursue AFC was the right thing for me after researching the impact of implant disease and its devastating effects it could have on patients and their caregivers. As of April 1, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration has received a total of 1,130 US and global medical device reports of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The FDA recently moved to make certain that women considering breast implants have a clear picture of what implants involve before having surgery. To balance these perspectives with the likes of medical logic, broad based study of existing research and close attention to real life results I am asking that you at the very least offer AFC as a viable option.

As a result of my choice, I have lived happily flat ever since. I appreciate your dedication to patient-centered care and ensuring that your mastectomy patients receive all the information they need to make an informed choice.

Thank you,

(Your Name)