Fw: Tram Flap Operation 3/27/2001 Discovery Channel & Support Groups?

[Guest guest]

From: " Pam Young (by way of ilena rose) " <pamyoung73@...>

Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 7:00 PM

Subject: Tram Flap Operation 3/27/2001 Discovery Channel & Support Groups?

>

> Dear Ilena: I am disabled because of a tram flap operation at Moffitt

> Cancer Center in 1997. I posted messages on an interactive message group

> alt.support-breast cancer group about a year ago when I had Web TV. But,

> now I can't figure out how to post on the group. Did it change since I

> moved?

>

> I would like to let people know that Discovery Channel is scheduled to

show

> the Tram Flap operation on March 27 at 7p.m. My mother saw it a few weeks

> ago and said she didn't know how I lived through it.

>

> I am writing a paper about the new law PL 105-277. This law requires

> insurance companies to pay for reconstructive surgery. Women need to write

> to their State and Federal law makers and insist upon strict legal

> guidelines.

>

> I have three suggested guidelines:

>

> 1. A thorough medical background checklist of a woman's medical history to

> discover anything that would disqualify her from a reconstructive surgery,

> such as bowel disease. In my case if the doctor had done a check, she

> should have disqualified me from a Tram because I had bowel and back

> problems.

>

> 2. Required viewing of a video of the intended operation and an

interactive

> computer program of the surgery including procedures and complications. If

> I would have seen a video of the surgery or known of the horrible

> complications, I would have never had the tram flap.

>

> 3. A detailed consent form that lists all possible complications to the

> surgery, given to the patient at least 24 hours in advance of the surgery.

> The plastic surgeon gave me a generic consent form just prior to going

into

> the operating room. If I would have had it 24 hours before and been able

to

> read all the complications, I would not have gone in for that crippling

> surgery.

>

> Pamyoung73@...

> Dear Ilena: Are they any Tram Flap support groups? I have seen many

implant

> support groups, but nothing for people like me who have been crippled by

> the Tram. Thanks, Pam.

>

>