Women’s History Month: A focus on women’s health
Life after breast cancer: How to deal with numbness
During the initial shock of a
cancer diagnosis, patients
can be overwhelmed by all
the decisions that need to be
made. Staying alive and getting
the cancer out are top of mind with little
time to think about life after cancer. But
what happens after the treatments, after
mastectomy and even after breast reconstruction?
Thanks to advancements in treatment,
patients are living longer. But now patients
face a new set of challenges - the long-term
impact to quality of life from treatment and
surgery. One of those challenges is potentially
facing the rest of their life with a completely
numb chest.
Explaining postmastectomy
numbness
Sensation loss post-mastectomy is common,
but why?
There are sensory nerves that run
from the breast to the nervous system,
sending signals that allow you to feel
touch, temperature and even pain. But
during mastectomy, these nerves need
to be cut when the rest of the breast
tissue is removed. If the nerves aren't
repaired during breast reconstruction,
they can no longer send signals. No signals
mean no sensation. And often, even
reconstructed breasts are permanently
numb.
Women often say they weren't prepared
for how numb they would feel after mastectomy
or just how much it would impact
their daily lives. (Reference: Crohan S,
Campbell A. Breast Sensations Research
Report. Inspired Health. October 2020.
Report on file at Axogen.) Think of the
awkwardness and discomfort you experience
after leaving the dentist with a partially
numb mouth. Now imagine feeling
that all the time in a large portion of
your chest, potentially for the rest of your
life.
It can be more than an inconvenience. It
can be a safety issue, too. Without sensation,
you're unable to gauge whether water
is too hot or a seatbelt is too snug. You
may not even be able to tell if your chest
is injured while doing a physical activity.
But perhaps worst of all, the sense of
touch is gone. You may no longer be able
to feel warm hugs from your loved ones
or a child's head resting on your chest.
And you may be surprised by how much
numbness may impact intimacy in relationships.
How can feeling be restored?
In the past, successful reconstructive
surgery focused solely on restoring the
appearance of the breast (recreating the
size, shape, symmetry, softness). But restoring
feeling and sensation has been largely
ignored.
With advanced technology, a pioneering
surgical procedure now exists
that can help to restore sensation for
breast cancer survivors and previvors
post-mastectomy.
This surgical technique, called
Resensation, is performed during breast
reconstruction. Surgeons use a processed
nerve allograft to reconnect the
nerves in the chest that were cut during
a mastectomy. The allograft then
guides regrowth of nerve fibers and over
time offers the opportunity to regain
sensation.
What have women said
about the procedure?
Women across the country have received
this procedure helping them to regain sensation
in their chest. They've stated that regaining
sensation helped them feel more normal
and more like their old selves, according to
the Breast Sensations Research Report. In
fact, 97% of women interviewed in a recent
study who underwent Resensation:
• Would recommend that a friend or
family member explore neurotization
options
• Said potential rewards in terms of
physical and emotional impact and
quality of life outweighed potential
risk of the procedure not being successful
• Believe that restoring breast sensation
should become standard of care
for breast reconstruction
What's next?
It's important that doctors and surgeons
have open conversations with breast cancer
patients to discuss life after mastectomy
and that losing sensation is a possibility.
This allows patients time to consider their
options, ask questions, do their research
and understand that options exist to potentially
restore feeling. A first step in this process
is visiting Resensation.com to learn
more about the procedure and hear from
past patients.
— Courtesy of BPT
14 March 10, 2022 Schneps Media
/Resensation.com
