Breast Cancer Awareness: How Tissue Donation Impacts Experiences with Double Mastectomy and Reconstruction
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Donor Alliance is educating people about how the lifesaving and healing gifts of tissue can help those recovering from a double mastectomy. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation. This includes breast reconstruction.
Understanding Double Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction: Procedure and Recovery Process
A double mastectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of both breasts, often as a preventive measure in cases of genetic predisposition to breast cancer.
This intricate process consists of several crucial steps, with a unique twist in some cases: the inclusion of donated tissue from someone who passed away. Donated tissue, such as fat grafts or skin flaps from the patient’s own body or tissue from a donor, plays a vital role in the reconstruction process, ensuring a more natural, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing result. Beyond the surgery itself, one of the most common concerns is the recovery time. While recovery can vary from person to person, incorporating donated tissue can potentially expedite the healing process. It promotes blood flow and tissue regeneration, ultimately helping patients on their journey towards physical and emotional recovery.
Cathy’s Story
Eight years ago, Cathy Holman of Wyoming received a preventative double mastectomy, including reconstructive surgery. Both her mother and sister suffered from breast cancer. Due to her hereditary risk, Cathy decided a double mastectomy was the best option for facing what was likely the inevitable. The journey, both physically and emotionally, was long. One thing many people don’t consider when getting a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery is the fact they will likely be utilizing donated tissue from a donor during the reconstruction. For those considering a double mastectomy, whether as a preventative measure or after facing breast cancer head-on, Cathy’s story will help you through the process.
You can learn more about Cathy’s journey at prairiewifeinheels.com
Coping with the Emotional and Physical Aspects of Double Mastectomy
One of the things that helped Cathy prepare for the double mastectomy was having a surgeon who provided options. Initially, Cathy wanted to use her own tissue to support her reconstruction, but unfortunately, she did not have enough excess tissue. This led to a discussion about donated tissue. Donated tissue allows for a more natural-looking reconstruction and provides more support. Cathy explained how she was able to play, hold her kids, and enjoy life because of her generous tissue donor. Just one tissue donor can help up to 10 patients undergoing breast reconstruction.
Healthy Habits That Help during a Double Mastectomy Recovery and Breast Reconstruction Process
Cathy’s recovery following her double mastectomy and reconstruction was no easy task; thankfully, the donated tissue made it easier. Many people don’t realize a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery is not a one-time procedure. It requires multiple surgeries over the course of a few months to a year. Being active and eating healthy allows for a strong and healthy recovery from a double mastectomy and reconstruction. Ultimately, donated tissue helps immensely with this process. It allows the recipient to become active more quickly and ease back into their normal life.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Ways to Get Involved
By registering to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor, you can one day help someone in need of breast reconstruction. Additionally, tissue transplants help tens of thousands of people each year suffering from trauma, disease or blindness. Registering is easy! Simply say “Yes” and check the box the next time you get your driver license or state ID. You can also register today at DonorAlliance.org.
Donation Essentials Blog
Curious how organs are transported for transplant?
All local organs for transplant are accompanied by a certified courier and/or tracked using a monitoring device. It’s important to keep a few facts in mind when about how organs are transported:
- The time donor kidneys remain viable outside the body allows for the use of commercial transport which helps control costs and keeps transplant accessible for more patients in need.
- Though one potentially lifesaving organ going unused is too many, a very small number of kidneys, approximately 0.14% in the last five years nationally, have been compromised due to transportation issues.
- Donor Alliance employs the use of kidney perfusion machines in the vast majority of cases which allow for remote monitoring of the organ.
The Organ Transportation Process
Organs recovered for transplant include: heart, lungs, kidney, liver, pancreas and small intestine.
- Preservation: Once the organs have been recovered, timing becomes essential for the success of the transplantation. Each organ is carefully preserved using special solutions and packed on ice for transportation to the transplant center. There are specific processes in place to ensure that each organ is packaged and labeled appropriately.
- Transportation: Most organs travel to the hospital of the waiting recipient, escorted by the recovering surgeon and are then given to the surgeon who will perform the transplant. Since our service area covers all of Colorado and most of Wyoming, sometimes a flight is required to transport the organs from the donation hospital to the transplant center. In that case, we work closely with a private charter flight service to transport the organs to transplant centers. If a commercial flight is needed, the organs are always accompanied by a certified courier and/or tracked using a monitoring device.
Revolutionizing and Expediting Lifesaving Organ & Tissue Transport
In 2023, Donor Alliance joined the Matador Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Consortium to explore the possibility of leveraging advanced drone technology to quickly transport lifesaving organs across long distances between rural hospitals and hospitals where transplants occur. Currently, OPOs leverage both commercial and private ground and air transportation services for safe delivery of donated organs and tissue. The initiative is working in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration to build a corridor to ensure airspace for drone travel, which will be another tool used by OPOs to transport lifesaving organs and other timely medical needs.
“Nearly 1,300 people in Colorado and Wyoming are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant,” said Jennifer Prinz, president and CEO of Donor Alliance. “Donor Alliance is committed to exploring innovation that can help us honor donors’ gifts in rural communities and save and heal recipients in a safe and timely manner.”
The Tissue Transportation Process
Tissues recovered for transplant are: bones, tendons, heart valves, veins, arteries, skin, and corneas.
- Preservation: Once the tissues for transplantation are procured, they are carefully placed in the appropriate preservation solution, packaged and labeled. All tissues are preserved in coolers, where temperatures are monitored.
- Transportation: The tissues are couriered to the tissue processors, who perform additional testing on the tissues to ensure they are safe for transplantation and prepare them for the recipients. When the tissues are being transported from the recovery facility to the tissue processor there is regular and consistent communication between both parties to ensure that the tissues arrive within the necessary time frames. Hearts recovered for valve transplantation must arrive at the Processor facility within 24 hours of recovery. Because tissues are processed, there are varying preservation time frames, some tissues may be processed and stored for up to five years. The tissue processors use the recovered tissue to create numerous grafts for transplant in procedures such as ACL replacement, coronary artery bypass surgery, skin grafts, some dental procedures and more.
It’s important to remember, this is only a part of the organ and tissue donation and transplantation process. You can read more about the organ donation process and tissue donation process on our website.
At Donor Alliance, our mission is to save and heal lives through organ and tissue donation for transplantation. We’re also here to share the facts surrounding donation, including how organs are transported. If you ever have a question about donation and transplantation, we encourage you to visit our Donation FAQ page or call us at 303-329-4747. You can also visit our registry websites, DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org, to learn more and to sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.
Come out to support organ, eye, and tissue donation as the Air Force Falcons take on the Oregon State Beavers! It’s the perfect opportunity to cheer on our team while raising awareness for a cause that saves and heals lives. Wear your Donate Life gear, bring your friends and family, and help us make a difference on and off the field.
October is Healthy Lung Month, an observance dedicated to raising awareness about lung health and encourage people to take steps to maintain healthy lungs. Currently, nearly 1,000 people in the United States are on the waitlist for a lifesaving lung transplant. This requires lung transplant surgery. According to the Organ Procurement Transplant Network, so far in 2024, 30 lung transplants have been performed in Colorado. Nine people in Colorado and Wyoming continue to wait for a lung transplant.
When is a lung transplant needed?
When medication and breathing devices can no longer support damaged lungs or when a patient’s lung function becomes life-threatening, the patient will need a transplant. Donate Life America explains how there are many diseases that can damage lungs enough to need a transplant. Diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, scarring of the lungs, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis with advanced fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Unhealthy or damaged lungs can make it difficult for the body to get the oxygen it needs to survive.
Transplant process:
Step 1: Transplant Evaluation
Before a transplant, a person must undergo an evaluation to determine if they qualify. This includes both physical health tests and emotional well-being assessments.
Step 2: Lung Allocation Score
If a person qualifies for a transplant, the system assigns them a score that determines their place on the waiting list, known as the Lung Allocation Score (LAS). Many things play a part in this score, including severity of disease and organ function, age, etc.
Step 3: Waiting List Placement
After evaluators assess someone, that person will receive their placement on the waitlist. Position on the waitlist can fluctuate depending on many factors, such as if someone lower on the list is a better match than someone up higher, the way a person’s health changes, and more.
Step 4: Transplant Surgery
Once a match is made, people on the waitlist will go into surgery. The length of the surgery will depend on whether the person is receiving a single or double lung transplant.
Step 5: Post-Transplant
Following lung transplant surgery, there are many things the recipient will need to pay attention to. First, the recipient will start taking medications including anti-rejection medications. Depending on how long it takes the recipient to heal and adjust to the new lungs, they can spend up to a few weeks in the hospital. Diet, exercise, and pain management following the transplant are very important to pay attention to as well.
Meet Dean, double lung transplant recipient:
Dean Hutto, of Highlands Ranch, is a double lung recipient. Thanks to his generous donor and their family for saying “yes” to organ donation almost 10 years ago, he has been able to live life to the fullest. Dean has also become a Donor Alliance Advocate for Life volunteer to educate and inspire people to register. “I pray every day for my courageous donor family. Just think of all the life events that I’ve been able to experience with my new lungs. My kids are all grown up and beginning families. I am so grateful for the gift I received. Please say YES to organ, eye and tissue donation. Get that heart on your driver license.” – Dean
Did you know signing up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor means you have the potential to donate and save someone who needs a lung transplant? One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and save and heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation. Show your support for Healthy Lung Month and to all of the members of our community who are suffering from lung disease. Give hope to those waiting for a lifesaving lung transplant and register as an organ, eye and tissue donor. Signing up is easy! Check the box and say ‘Yes’ the next time you get your driver license or state ID or register today at DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.
