HJAR May/Jun 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2024 39 Yara V. Robertson, MD, FACS Medical Director of Surgery CARTI So, is Resensation the next frontier in breast cancer reconstructive surgery? In March, Eric Wright, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and I had the opportunity to perform this procedure for the first time in Arkansas. The surgery was successful. However, nerves are some of the slowest regenerating tissues in the body and take time to heal. Assessing the full impact of the nerve repair won’t be possible for 18-24 months post-surgery. We are hopeful about the outcome and look forward to perform- ing regular sensory assessments with this patient over the next several months. As I often tell my patients, breast recon- struction is their choice. When determining their course of treatment, including a poten- tial mastectomy, I believe women should have a clear understanding of every option at their disposal. And that includes access to innovative procedures like Resensation. As their medical providers, it’s our responsibil- ity to share the educational resources and emotional support they need to make in- formed decisions. During a time often filled with uncertainty and a lack of control, we can give them greater autonomy over their bodies and, hopefully, improve their long- term quality of life. n Yara V. Robertson, MD, FACS, is the medical director of surgery at CARTI,a not-for-profit multidisciplinary cancer care provider with 18 locations across Arkansas. She serves patients at CARTI’s flagship campus in Little Rock and CARTI Cancer Center in Pine Bluff. She completed a residency in general surgery and fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She graduated from Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University. self-image can lead to a loss of confidence, social withdrawal, or isolation, which can, in turn, impact their intimate relationships or sexuality. Consider breast cancer patients as an example. Women who choose to undergo potentially lifesaving mastectomies not only lose their breasts, a widely recognized sym- bol of femininity, but also risk losing sensa- tion in their chests permanently. When the breast tissue is cut and removed, so are the nerves, interrupting the signal that affects women’s perception of touch, pressure, and temperature. Data shows that of the 90,000 women in the U.S. who have one or both breasts removed for cancer treatment or risk reduction, up to 60% will experience persistent breast numbness. The Journal of Breast Health found that the resulting sensory deficits can disrupt wom- en’s body image, intimacy, and long-term quality of life. TheAmerican Cancer Society notes that without sensation in their chest areas, women who pursue reconstruction may have difficulty feeling like their new breasts are their own. With the help of an innovative surgical technique called Resen- sation, womenmay no longer have to accept numbness as the norm. During breast reconstruction, specially trained Resensation surgeons use a nerve allograft to reconnect cut nerves in the chest. Over time, the nerves can heal and regenerate, potentially restoring feeling to a woman’s chest. Surgeons can use this nerve repair technique during most immediate or delayed breast reconstruction procedures. It may also be possible to reconnect the nerves during a revision surgery. NO ONE WANTS to feel like they aren’t themselves. But for breast cancer patients unprepared for the potential outcome of partial or complete numbness following a mastectomy, that may be their reality. For women weighing whether to proceed with breast reconstruction surgery, there may now be a promising new nerve repair tech- nique to consider in the decision-making process. During and after breast cancer treatment, women often share their concerns, frustra- tions, or even grief about the changes to their bodies. They may say, “I just want to get back to my old self,” or perhaps, “I don’t even look like me.”Their words may differ, but the underlying sentiment is largely the same — a temporary disconnection or dis- satisfaction with their self-image. Any patient will tell you that cancer is life altering — physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a breast surgical oncolo- gist and five-year kidney cancer survivor, I understand firsthand how a diagnosis can shift our perspective, including how we feel about ourselves. According to a peer- reviewed study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing , adults who have undergone cancer treatment may report dissatisfaction with the perceived changes in their appearance or psychological distress regarding these physical alterations. The wave of emotions patients experience as part of their treatments and recoveries can lead to a ripple effect of adverse effects, which may limit their participation in or enjoyment of their daily lives. Research published in the American Journal of Nursing found that patients’ anguish over their