Mentor Pledges Support for Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is proud to welcome Mentor as the 2017 Diamond Sponsor for the sixth annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, which takes place throughout the United States and Canada October 18.

Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is a collaborative effort between ASPS, The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF), plastic surgeons specializing in breast surgery, nurse navigators, corporate partners, breast cancer support groups and other organizations. The campaign is designed to educate the public about breast reconstruction options by promoting patient care and research.

On October 18, participating Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day organizations as well as breast reconstruction patients and ASPS member plastic surgeons coordinate educational and promotional events, such as lectures, flash mobs, fundraising parties, advertising campaigns, community events and more.

"We greatly appreciate Mentor's commitment to breast reconstruction education over the years and we are excited to welcome the company as the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day Diamond Sponsor," said Debra Johnson, MD, president of ASPS.

Mentor is a leading supplier of medical products for the global aesthetic medicine market. The company has made breast implant devices for more than 30 years.

"It's paramount that industry leaders and providers focus on educating breast cancer patients on their reconstruction options," said Mike Kelly, product director of U.S. Marketing, Mentor Worldwide LLC. "By collaborating with the Breast Reconstruction Awareness campaign, we are even better positioned to empower women to make informed breast reconstruction decisions following a mastectomy or lumpectomy."

Striving to reach all women

Many women eligible for breast reconstruction following mastectomy or lumpectomy are not informed of their options at the time of diagnosis. The two main reasons women do not undergo breast reconstruction is that patients are not referred to breast reconstructive surgeons and are not informed of their reconstructive options.

Despite comprising nearly a quarter of all women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States, African American women only constitute 15 percent of those receiving reconstructive procedures. Meanwhile, Caucasian women also comprise nearly a quarter of all breast cancer diagnoses but undergo 73 percent of the reconstructive procedures.

Studies show that women who undergo breast reconstruction experience significant improvements in psychological, social and sexual well-being. It's crucial that all women are informed of their options, regardless of race or ethnicity. For more information on breast reconstruction, visit www.breastreconusa.org.

Close the loop on breast cancer

While nearly one in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, only 23 percent of women know the wide range of breast reconstruction options available to them. In an effort to raise public awareness and close the loop on breast cancer, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons issued Breast Reconstruction – a special magazine that provides exclusive coverage on all topics related to breast reconstruction to help women understand their treatment options. Breast Reconstruction 2017 sheds light on common misconceptions of breast cancer and provides stories of hope, courage and innovation from the patients' and physicians' perspective. This issue also details initiatives by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Plastic Surgery Foundation to increase awareness of breast reconstruction options and the importance of consulting a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery when considering this procedure. Download a free electronic copy of Breast Reconstruction at plasticsurgery.org/breastreconissue.