Portland Plastic Surgeons Celebrate National Breast Reconstruction Day
Portland, OR – The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery, a center for plastic surgery in Portland, values education to empower their patients. October 17, 2012 will mark the first time Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day is celebrated in the United States. BRA Day is a day of activism that focuses on patient awareness, patient education, and patient access in regard to post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. At the Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery, Dr. Kathleen Waldorf and Dr. Shannon O’Brien are proud to actively participate in BRA Day and to contribute to the day’s efforts.
Drs. Waldorf and O’Brien have signed up as official affiliates of the event. They have assembled a public forum consisting of plastic surgeons, a surgical oncologist, a radiologist, a psychologist, and a post-reconstruction patient to discuss post-mastectomy breast reconstruction for those less acquainted with the procedures. The forum will take place at the Multnomah Athletic Club on October 17th from 6-8 PM in conjunction with the BRA Day campaign.
According to the BRA Day website, 7 out of 10 women are unaware of their options regarding breast reconstruction. Most mastectomy patients are eligible for breast reconstruction surgery and there are evident emotional benefits, in addition to the physical benefits, from such a procedure. In addition to increasing self-confidence in one’s image, post-mastectomy breast reconstruction will not interfere with any aspect of cancer treatment, including future screenings.
BRA Day originated in Canada in 2011 and now the event will take place annually in the United States on the third Wednesday of October. The campaign combines the efforts of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Plastic Surgery Foundation, medical professionals directly involved in breast reconstruction, as well as breast cancer support groups. Dr. Waldorf, a board-certified Portland plastic surgeon, says she and Dr. O’Brien are excited to participate in the campaign’s inaugural kick off in the United States. They believe patients should be educated about post-mastectomy choices so that they may choose the best option for their individual circumstance.
About Kathleen Waldorf, MD
Dr. Kathleen Waldorf is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons as well as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. A graduate of general surgery training at Georgetown University’s medical school, Dr. Waldorf also completed a residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Oregon Health Sciences University.
About Shannon O’Brien, MD
Dr. Shannon O'Brien is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a member of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons. She joined The Waldorf Center in 2008 after serving as the Chief Resident at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. At the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio where she earned her Doctorate of Medicine, Dr. O’Brien was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.
To contact The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery, visit their website at waldorfcenter.com or call 503-646-0101. Their office is located at 9775 Southwest Wilshire Street, Portland, OR 97225. The center’s Facebook page can be found at facebook.com/TheWaldorfCenter.
Komen Oregon Funds Life-Saving Programs
Our Cheery Race for the Cure TeamThis past weekend The Waldorf Center team met in downtown Portland for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. It was a beautiful morning to walk with the masses (over 22,000 people) in support of some very important life-saving programs. It is not an exaggeration to say that these programs are life-saving.
Komen Oregon partners with the State of Oregon and American Cancer Society to offer free breast cancer screening, treatment, and transportation services to eligible patients. In April, Komen Oregon detailed in a press release how over $2 million in grants were awarded to support local women through services, breast health and educational programs, and transport programs. To learn more about the available services and eligibility, please visit www.komenoregon.org.
The Race for the Cure was once again an inspiring event that marks the beginning of breast cancer and breast reconstruction awareness for our community. It was inspiring to see the courage of the survivors and their families, and the support of the Portland community for this worthy cause.
