A breast cancer revolution
By Patricia Nugent
When Oseola, Wisconsin resident Georgi Anderson received her stunning diagnosis of having breast cancer two months ago, her doctor recommended she undergo a bilateral mastectomy, followed by about six months of wearing pectoral expanders before undergoing breast reconstruction surgery.
The idea of wearing painful expanders and stretching this traumatic experience over a half-year did not sit well with this single mom’s busy life as a media executive and her passion for riding cutting performance horses, which takes an intense amount of core and upper body strength.
Like all women facing the prospect of a breast cancer diagnosis, Georgi did her research to find out if there were possible alternatives to minimize some of the pain, emotional stress, surgical and recovery time, risk on her overall body health, and financial expense.
She remembered meeting a plastic surgeon from Mentor, Dr. Paul Vanek of Vanek Plastic Surgery, on a cruise to Tahiti five years earlier. Dr. Vanek had treated her sister after she had an accident with coral on the island. Georgi decided to call him for advice and was surprised—through luck or divine intervention—that he was highly familiar with and specializes in a revolutionary new procedure that combines a nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate full breast reconstruction.
After encouraging her to find a Board-certified plastic surgeon in her region to perform this innovative procedure, she was unable to do so and decided to explore her surgery options with Dr. Vanek in person. Full of faith and hope, Georgi hopped on a plane for her destination—800 miles away.
“Everything is Going to Be Okay”
“My philosophy of patient care is to integrate elements of personalized care with technology and the most modern techniques,” Dr. Vanek says. “Being the first doctor in our area to offer the pre-pectoral, single-stage breast reconstruction is part of this philosophy.”
“It’s an extremely emotional experience to receive a breast cancer diagnosis,” he continues, “so our discussion was about how to manage Georgi’s cancer and how to reconstruct her in a way that would make her happiest through this ordeal and long after her challenges were over. Sadly, many patients don’t know about this option, so they simply opt for a lumpectomy or mastectomy, often with chemotherapy and/or radiation. Others say ‘no’ to reconstruction altogether, to avoid months of pain from expanders, or simply to be done with the whole experience.”
“It was a Godsend that Dr. Vanek was the first doctor to assure me everything was going to be okay, explain all my options, and help me to understand how different procedures would impact my life,” Georgi says. “He was there for me from beginning to end, even holding my hand as I was put to sleep for the surgery.”
Being double-board certified in general and plastic surgery technically qualified Dr. Vanek to perform both the oncology and reconstructive procedures. But he also needed to know how to use new technology and perform the most innovative procedural techniques.
Taking Only What’s Necessary
“This leading-edge procedure is an evolution in technique. One aspect is the patient’s breast skin and nipple areola are totally preserved, with a constant awareness of the desired end result,” says Dr. Vanek.
“The incisions are made very precisely and strategically, and only the tumor and underlying breast tissue are removed. The results are far more natural than with a traditional separate reconstruction. My mission for each patient is to achieve the very best cosmetic results while, at the same time, the most effective cancer treatment.”
After removing the tumor and breast tissue, he dissected the sentinel lymph node near the tumor and discovered it was cancer-free, which meant additional chemotherapy and radiology would not be necessary. Then he immediately placed the gel implant and Alloderm (an acellular dermal matrix material that becomes vascularized and incorporated into the body) above the pectoral muscle, which, in addition to being less painful than inserting expanders, reinforces and supports the soft tissues of the mastectomy flaps. This gives the implants a long-lasting, beautiful result.
Instead of two surgeries and a healing process that typically stretches over six months, Georgi was feeling great after several days. (The accompanying photos were taken only one week after her surgery.)
And the best part? She was back riding her beloved horses less than a month after surgery.
As for the implants, she says she chose to go just a little smaller than her original size.
“Dr. Vanek was very frank with me about expectations,” she says. “He told me that going smaller might not work as well surgically, so he was prepared with both size implants in the OR. I’m happy he was able to make the B-cup work. I am totally pleased with my results.”
Georgi and Dr. Vanek are anxious to discuss her situation in hopes of helping other women receiving the same shocking diagnosis.
“For the countless women facing what Georgi did, I want them to know they have new options,” Dr. Vanek says. “Performing your cancer surgery and reconstruction at the same time, preserving your nipple and breast skin, avoiding painful expanders, reducing your recovery time, vastly improving your aesthetic results, and getting you back to your life more quickly…these are all possible now.”
Just Like Family
Georgi says Dr. Vanek’s staff was amazing in many ways, and worked hard to make sure the surgery was covered by her insurance. Through it all, she says every aspect was “just like talking to my family.”
“They showed the most kindness and sincerity I’ve ever felt from any doctor’s practice,” she says. “They are professional, but the opposite of clinical. The whole atmosphere was welcoming and positive. This experience changed my life, renewed my faith and reinforced my belief that people care and do kind things.”
Dr. Paul Vanek is double board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and chief of staff at Lake Health. His offices are located at 9485 Mentor Avenue, Suite 100, in Mentor. For more information, call 440-205-5750 or visit MentorPlasticSurgery.com.