The Breast Team: 2015 Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure
April 10, 2015
Each year, the Susan G. Komen organization hosts 5K races throughout the country to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. This year, Perimeter Plastic Surgery is excited to be the event sponsor for the 25th annual Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure on May 9 at the Lenox Square Mall.
With the help of our patients, our staff has formed a team called “The Breast Team” to participate in the race. Proceeds from the race will help screen and treat women, conduct educational programs, and fund research toward finding a cure. Approximately 75 percent of the proceeds will stay in Atlanta, and 25 percent will go toward national efforts. Join or donate today.
The Komen organization funds screening to detect breast cancer early, drastically improving survival outcomes. It also helps fund preventative healthcare and treatment programs for low-income women and conducts public education programs to improve awareness and understanding of breast cancer. Scientific research towards finding a cure is also funded in part through donations raised by the Komen organization during the annual races.
Dr. Deutsch has spent over 20 years studying and practicing plastic and reconstructive surgery and has published multiple articles and lectures about breast reconstruction. He is honored to use his expertise to help women who have undergone a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer. During the advanced stages of breast cancer, a unilateral mastectomy (removal of one breast) or bilateral mastectomy (removal of both breasts) is often recommended to remove all cancerous tissue before it spreads to other parts of the body.
Dr. Deutsch performs breast reconstruction to restore breast symmetry and fullness, helping women “feel whole” again and move forward with their lives after winning their battles with breast cancer. Options for breast reconstruction include using autologous tissue (from your own body), tissue expansion, and implants.
A portion of the proceeds from all breast surgeries performed by Dr. Deutsch at Perimeter Plastic Surgery will be donated to the Susan G. Komen organization. This year, the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure hopes to have 10,000 participants and raise $1.2 million. Perimeter Plastic Surgery’s “Breast Team” is looking forward to participating in this valuable cause.
Dr. Deutsch Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Every October
October was officially recognized in the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1985. The American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries (now a division of AstraZeneca) formed a partnership to educate the public and convince women to take the necessary steps to detect breast cancer early. If detected early, the five-year survival rate of women diagnosed with breast cancer is 98 percent.
An organization with deep roots in the breast cancer awareness and early detection movement is Susan G. Komen® for the Cure. It was founded in 1982 by Nancy G. Brinker as part of a promise she made to her sister, who passed away due to complications from breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen is the largest breast cancer awareness organization in the United States.
“We support Susan G. Komen each year as one of our primary philanthropic activities because the need to find a cure for breast cancer and support those who suffer from it is so great,” says Mark Deutsch, MD, medical director and plastic surgeon of Perimeter Plastic Surgery. “I’m honored to be able to contribute to such an amazing organization like Susan G. Komen, which continues to impact thousands of lives every day.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, about 1 in 8 women born in the United States will get breast cancer at some point in their lives. Every two minutes, another woman is diagnosed with this disease. This includes cancer ranging from stage zero to invasive breast cancer, the deadliest stage and form of the disease. Continued funding for breast cancer research is certainly needed.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure has funded more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit organization. Since its founding, Komen has financed more than $800 million in research seeking to improve methods for earlier detection of breast cancer and more effective treatment. Additionally, the organization has provided $1.7 billion in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial support programs serving millions of people in more than 30 countries worldwide.
Dedicated to Supporting the Cause
Because we often work with women who seek breast reconstruction surgery after battling breast cancer and have met so many survivors over the years, it’s important to our practice to honor these women during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We do so every year by donating a portion of the profits from breast surgeries performed at Perimeter Plastic Surgery to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Breast cancer is a cause close to Dr. Deutsch’s heart, not only for professional reasons based on his relationships with breast reconstruction patients but also because his own mother is a breast cancer survivor.
“I feel a particularly strong pull towards supporting breast cancer awareness because of my profession, obviously, but also because of my mother, who is a breast cancer survivor,” says Dr. Deutsch. “This is our way of honoring her and every other woman who has to go through what she did.”
A Call to Action
With many researchers hard at work to find a cure, hopefully, one day soon, they will. But they need our financial support to keep going. To make a donation to support this vital research and fight against breast cancer, please visit the Susan G. Komen website today.
Until a cure is found, the best way to combat breast cancer is early detection and screening. Dr. Deutsch and his staff encourage all women to have an early detection plan, which includes monthly self-breast exams and yearly routine mammogram screenings for women over 40. Women should be familiar with their breast tissue and tell their doctors if they notice any changes, such as a lump in the breast, a bloody discharge from the nipple, or a change in the texture or shape of the breast tissue or nipple.
To perform a self-breast exam, look at your breasts in the mirror to see if they look different than normal: dimples that weren’t there before, redness, etc. Another part of the exam is to lie down in a comfortable position with one arm behind your head and use the fingers of your opposite hand to feel around each breast for lumps that seem abnormal.
If you do feel something abnormal, do not panic. Many women have naturally lumpy breasts or the lumps you feel could even be a result of an ingrown hair. However, it’s important to consult with a doctor if you feel a lump you haven’t felt before with previous self-checks to be on the safe side. If you feel anything that seems abnormal, contact your doctor immediately for an expert medical opinion.
Anyone confronted with breast cancer and mastectomy, who may be considering breast reconstruction, is welcome to contact Perimeter Plastic Surgery with any questions or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Deutsch.
Dr. Deutsch is one of the few surgeons in Atlanta who specializes in DIEP Flap Reconstruction, a procedure that takes abdominal tissue to reconstruct patients’ breasts, resulting in a flatter stomach and natural-looking breasts. Perimeter Plastic Surgery offers several other breast reconstruction surgeries as well, including latissimus flaps, tissue expander reconstruction, and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps.
Additional training at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas—one of the foremost breast cancer centers in the world—qualifies Dr. Deutsch as one of the most respected and capable breast reconstruction surgeons in Atlanta.
Dr. Deutsch’s extensive knowledge and experience in performing this specific type of treatment enable him to provide each patient with a safe and effective breast reconstruction procedure. Please call Perimeter Plastic Surgery at 404-620-6081 to book your appointment with Atlanta Plastic Surgeon Dr. Deutsch. Breast reconstruction can be the first step towards emotional recovery, helping you feel healthy and whole again.
Photography by Hughes Media Creative Team