Events, Fundraisers and Heightened Awareness Mark the 11th Annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day on Oct. 19, 2022

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), in partnership with The Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF), is proud to announce the 11th annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day on Oct. 19, 2022.

Many women who undergo a mastectomy or lumpectomy are unaware of the breast reconstruction options available to them. Recognizing that patients deserve accurate information to make the best decisions impacting their care, ASPS and The PSF launched the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Campaign and the annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day USA in 2012. BRA Day is designed to put an end to the unknowns surrounding breast reconstruction by promoting public education, patient care and research. BRA Day events worldwide bring much-needed attention to these procedures and provide information to patients and their supporters.

"When a breast cancer patient is facing a difficult change in her life, we want to engage, educate and empower patients to make the choice that's best for them, which includes knowing their breast reconstruction options," said The Plastic Surgery Foundation President Bernard Lee, MD, MBA, MPH. "Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day helps us to do that."

BRA Day efforts include informing patients, family, caregivers and media that the breast cancer loop remains open until a woman is aware of her breast reconstruction options. Local BRA Day events are scheduled throughout the nation on Oct. 19, and both the ongoing campaign and events raise funds to support research and grants in local communities and nationally.

This campaign would not be possible without our sponsors and supporters, including Diamond Sponsor Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, Gold Sponsor Motiva/Establishment Labs and Bronze Sponsors CareCredit and Integra Foundation. Through their continued commitment to patients, the BRA campaign has already raised approximately $175,000! Many regional and local events have committed to sharing a percentage of their dollars raised to the National Fund to support research, charitable care and awareness grants.

Supporters who would like to contribute have several options available throughout October. The CareCredit donation program will continue through the end of the month. Every time a CareCredit cardholder purchases $200 or more with their card at an ASPS-member location in the CareCredit network, CareCredit will donate $1 to the Breast Reconstruction Awareness campaign. The Breast Reconstruction Awareness 5K will take place Oct. 29 in Boston during Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2022. Participants can choose to run in person or virtually! Visit https://p2p.onecause.com/bra5k to learn more and sign up today.

About Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is part of a comprehensive approach and treatment for breast cancer patients. Studies show that women who undergo breast reconstruction experience significant improvements in psychological, social and sexual well-being. Every patient deserves to learn about breast reconstruction options at the time of diagnosis. The two main reasons women do not undergo breast reconstruction are that patients are not referred to breast reconstructive surgeons and are not informed of their reconstructive options.

This team approach provides a cohesive breast cancer treatment plan. Integral to this cohesiveness is the frequent breast tumor board meetings to discuss each patient and their individualized treatment. This group of specialists comprises breast surgeons, plastic pathologists, reconstructive surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, geneticists, nurses, patient care coordinators and more. This team approach ensures that all team members discuss and agree upon critical decisions regarding each patient's treatment. All aspects of care, from social to medical, are addressed at these meetings.

For more information on breast reconstruction, visit https://www.breastreconusa.org. Become educated and help educate others about the availability of breast reconstruction and why all women deserve a team approach to breast cancer treatment.