The staff of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre is providing you with this information on community resources as a courtesy service. The services offered by these businesses, organizations and independent providers may be of value to you. However, we cannot fully determine the quality, benefit and safety of the services offered. Therefore, we do not officially endorse any of the resources listed, nor are we responsible for any negative outcomes from accessing these services. Access these services only at your own choice and risk.

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Breast Prostheses –What You Need to Know

Tom Baker Cancer CentreSymptom Management│BreastProstheses│TBCC│Rev2012│B0008

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Mastectomy

What is a mastectomy?• Amastectomyissurgicalremovalofthebreastusuallytotreatorpreventbreastcancer.

• Therearefivedifferentkindsofmastectomies:• Subcutaneousmastectomy:removalofentirebreastexceptforthenippleandtheareola(pigmentedareaaroundthenipple).

• Total(orsimple)mastectomy:removaloftheentirebreast;nolymphnoderemoval.

• ModifiedRadicalMastectomy:removaloftheentirebreastincludingthelymphnodesunderthearm.

• RadicalMastectomy:removaloftheentirebreast,lymphnodesunderthearmandthechestwallmuscle.Thistypeofmastectomyisrarelyperformedtoday.

• SegmentalMastectomy:removalofapproximately25%ofthebreast(includingthetumour),andtheremovalofsomelymphnodes.

What are the risks of having a mastectomy?• Mastectomysurgeryisconsideredaverysafesurgery• Somerisksforalltypesofsurgeryinclude:- Bleeding- Infection- Injurytonearbytissues- Somepost-operativepain- Generalanaesthesiarisks

• Possiblerisksassociatedwiththeremovaloflymphnodesinclude:- Shoulderstiffness- Collectionoffluidinthearmpit- Postoperativeswellinginsamearm(lymphedema)- Numbpatchoninsideofarm

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What are my options for replacement of my breast?• Externalbreastprosthesis• Breastreconstruction(internal)–salineorautogenous(forexample,TRAMflap)

What is an external breast prosthesis?• Itisa“fake”breastthatcanbewornagainsttheskin,insideapocketinamastectomybra,orattachedtothechestwall.

• Thereareseveraltypesofexternalbreastprosthesisincluding:- Siliconebreastprosthesis–aweightedprosthesis;madeofsilicone

- Non-siliconebreastprosthesis–light-weight;madeoffoamorfiberfill

- Attachablebreast–self-adhesive;attachesdirectlytochestwall

- Post-surgicalsoftformincamisole–alight-weightbreastformthatfitsintoacamisolegarment;usuallyusedrightaftersurgery

- Partialbreastprosthesis(shaperorshell)–madeoffoam,fibrefill,orsilicone;designedtobewornoveryourownbreasttissuetoenhancesizeandshape;canbewornwitharegularbraorapostmastectomybra

What do I need to know about choosing a prosthesis?• Phoneforanappointment(afittingcantakeuptoanhour)• Takesomeonewithyouwhowillgiveanhonestopiniononthesuitabilityoftheprosthesis

• Wearabrathatfitswell,manywomenprefertheirownbrandofbra

• IfyounormallywearaformfittingT-shirt,blouseorsweater,besuretotakeonealongwithyou

• Onceyouhavechosenaprosthesis,youmayfindthatitseemsheavy.Wearitforafewhourseachdaytoallowyourbodytoadjusttotheweight

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What is a post mastectomy bra?• Itlookslikearegularbraexceptthatishasstretchypocketsinsidetoholdabreastprosthesis

How soon after a mastectomy can I wear a prosthesis?• Thistimelineisdifferentforeveryoneandthereforemustbediscussedwithyoursurgeon

Will others be able to tell that I am wearing a breast prosthesis?• Noonewillbeabletotellaslongasyourprosthesisfitsproperly

Do I need a prescription for a breast prosthesis and mastectomy bra?• Youwillrequireaprescriptionforinsurancepurposesonly

Will my breast prosthesis and mastectomy bra be covered by insurance?• BreastprosthesesarecoveredthroughAlbertaAidstoDailyLiving(AADL).Pleaseseepage7forfurtherinformationregardingcosts

• Mastectomysuppliesmaybecoveredthroughyour3rdpartyinsuranceplan.Pleasecallyourinsurancecompanytodetermineyourspecificcoverage

Where can I get breast prostheses and other mastec-tomy supplies?• PleaseseeanattachedlistofapprovedAADLvendorsinCalgary

What is breast reconstruction?• Breastreconstructioninasurgicalprocedurethatgivesyouabreastmoundfollowingamastectomy.

• Thereareseveraltypesofbreastreconstructionwhichcanbe

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reducedtothesetwomaincategories:• Artificialimplants• Reconstructionusingthewoman’sownbodytissues

Who should have breast reconstruction done?• Thisisapersonalchoice.Therearenomedicalreasonsforhavingbreastreconstruction,butmanywomenexpresssomepsychologicalbenefit

When should I have breast reconstruction?• Breastreconstructioncantakeplaceatthesametimeasyourmastectomysurgery,oritcanbedoneatanytimeinthefuture

• Discussthebestoptionforyouwithyourphysician

Sources: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlinepluswww.ucsfbreastcarecenter.orgwww.surgery.uiowa.edu/surgery/plastic/brecon.htmlwww.baptistoneword.org/healthinfo

Where can I receive emotional support?

Counselling and Support Department of Psychosocial Resources Tom Baker Cancer Centre• Phone403-355-3207• Counsellingandsupportforyou,yourfamilyandfriendsisavailablefreeofchargeattheDepartmentofPsychosocialResourcesattheHolyCrossSite

• Thisdepartmentisstaffedbyprofessionalcounsellors(psychologistsandsocialworkers)thatarespeciallytrainedtohelpyouandyourfamilycopewiththeemotional,psychologicalandsocialstresseswhichoftensurfaceasaresultofcanceranditstreatment

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New Breast Cancer Patient Groups• Forwomenwithintheirfirstyearafterdiagnosisofbreastcancer• ForwomenwithStage1-3breastcancer• Eachsessionsconsistsof12weeklymeetings• Thereare3sessionsperyear• Pleasecall403-355-3207formoreinformationandtosignupforthisgroup

Group for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer• Pleasecall403-355-3207formoreinformationaboutsigningupforthisgroup

• Ongoingweeklymeetings–Tuesdaysat1:30pminthePsychosocialDepartmentattheTomBakerCancerCentre

• Pleasecall403-355-3207tobookanappointment

Wellspring• Pleasecall403-521-5292• Formoreinformationgotowww.wellspringcalgary.ca• Providesongoingsupportprogramsandservicesforindividualslivingwithcancer

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Cancer Connection

• Telephonebasedprogramthatofferspeersupportdesignedtoputyouand/oryourcaregiverintouchwithsomeonewhohasalreadybeenthroughwhatyouarefacing.

• Trainedvolunteerswilllisten,provideemotionalsupport,andsharepracticalinformationaboutlivingwithcancer

• Foradultsatanypointintheircancerexperience,andtheircaregivers

• CancerConnectionisafreeserviceavailablethroughoutAlbertaandtheNorthwestTerritories-MondaytoFriday8:30am-4:30pm

• One-on-one,inpersonvisits,orpeersupportgroupscanalsobeaccessedbycalling1-888-939-3333andpress#2totalktoasupportspecialist.

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AADL Mastectomy Benefits

What is it?• AlbertaAidstoDailyLiving(AADL)assistAlbertansbyprovidingfinancialassistanceformastectomyprosthesis(fullorpartial)forwomenundertheageof65thatarearesidentofAlbertaandhaveavalidAlbertaPersonalHealthNumber(PHN)

Are mastectomy supplies covered?• Yes,onemastectomyprosthesisperbreast**iscoveredthroughAlbertaAidstoDailyLivingevery3years

**Provide100%coveragethroughAlbertaBlueCrossforSeniorsProgramforpeopleage65yearsandoverbasedonAADL’scurrentpricing.ClientsmustuseanapprovedAADLvendortoobtaintheirbreastprosthesis.

How much will it cost?• AADLhasacostsharingpolicy,whichrequirestheclienttopay25%ofthecost(s)ofthebenefit(s)toamaximumcontributionof$500perfamilyperbenefityear(July1throughJune30)

• AADLwillpayfor75%ofabreastprosthesisatAADL’scurrentbenchmarkprice(subjecttochangeatanytime)andafittingfeeforeachprosthesis

• AADLapprovedmastectomyvendorshavecontractualobligationstoprovidequalityproductsatorbelowAADL’sbenchmarkprice

• Inaddition,youhaveachoicetopickaprosthesisthatcostsmorethanAADL’sbenchmarkprice,howeveryouwillberesponsiblefor100%oftheamountovertheAADLbenchmarkprice,notincludingyourcostshareportion.

• Forexample,ifAADLbenchmarkpricewas$316- AADLwillpay$237(75%of$316)oftheprosthesis- AADLwillpay$22.50(75%of$30)ofthefittingfee- Youwillpay$79(25%of$316)- Youwillpay$7.50(25%of30%)- Yourtotalcostis$86.50

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• IfyouhaveAlbertaBlueCrossNon-Groupcoverage,youwillbecoveredfortheremaining25%ofcoststhatareabovetheallowablecoverage

• Ifyouhaveother3rdpartyinsurance,pleasecontactthemtoinquireaboutyourcoverageformastectomyprostheses

• Pleasebeawarethatifyouaregoingtouseyour3rdpartyinsuranceandAADL,AADLmustpayfirst,followedbyyour3rdpartyinsurance.IfyoudonotwanttoaccessAADLforyourprosthesis,thisisyourchoice,butpleaseensurethatyourinsurancecompanywillcoverallcostspriortoobtainingtheprosthesis,asAADLisnotareimbursementprogram

• Senior’sBlueCrossprovides100%coverageofabenchmarkprice

What is the next step?• MakeanappointmentattheCADLorspeakwithyourcommunityorhomeCareNurse

• IfyouhavequestionsregardingtheAADLProgramordonotknowhowtoaccesstheAADLProgram,pleasecalltollfreeat403-310-0000thendial780-427-0731

• AADLwillprovideyouwithalistofvendorswhereprosthesesaresold

• Pleaseconsiderbookinganappointmentwiththeprosthesisfitter

How do I contact them?

Calgary Aids to Daily Living (CADL)4020BownessRoadNWCalgary,AlbertaPhone:403-955-6955Fax:403-943-2110Hours:8:00am–4:30pmMon-Fri

• ForuptodateinformationonapprovedAADLvendors,pleasevisitwww.health.alberta.ca/services/aids-to-daily-living.html.ClickontheProgram Manuallink,scrolldowntotheMastectomy ProsthesessectionheadingandclickontheApproved Product ListlinktodownloadaPDFlisting

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Calgary:

AADL Authorized Mastectomy Prosthesis VendorsPleaserefertoyourlocalyellowpagesdirectoryforacompletelistingofvendors.

• AbilityMedicalSuppliesLtd3439–26thAveNE403-263-9994

• CalgaryCo-OpHomeHealthCare9309MacleodTrailSW403-263-9994

• CalgaryCo-OpHomeHealthCare4938RichmondRoadSW403-299-4488

• CompassionateBeauty26,22RichardWaySW403-686-6936

• KenronPharmacy100,1620–29thStNW403-289-7224

• ShoppersHomeHealthCare25A-180,94AveSE403-255-2288

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Lethbridge:

AADL Authorized Mastectomy Prosthesis VendorsPleaserefertoyourlocalyellowpagesdirectoryforacompletelistingofvendors.

• Leister’sHomeCare1224–3rdAveS403-380-2600

• ShoppersHomeHealthCare102,2045MayorMagrathDrS403-328-5599

• ShoppersHomeHealthCare119StaffordDriveS403-327-4511

• StaffordPharmacy&HomeHealthcare1475StEdwardBlvdN403-320-6500

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Medicine Hat:

AADL Authorized Mastectomy Prosthesis VendorsPleaserefertoyourlocalyellowpagesdirectoryforacompletelistingofvendors.

• CrestwoodPharmacyLtd1827DunmoreRoadSE403-527-4990

• ShoppersHomeHealthCare2,46CarryDriveSE403-527-8110

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Red Deer

AADL Authorized Mastectomy Prosthesis VendorsPleaserefertoyourlocalyellowpagesdirectoryforacompletelistingofvendors.• MillerdalePharmacyLtd5201–43Street403-342-1434

• ShoppersHomeHealthCare70C,5250–22Street800-307-6997

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