Uc San Diego Health

If you undergo surgery as part of a breast cancer treatment plan, you may experience side effects that affect your arm or upper body mobility and quality of life. Rehabilitation with a certified lymphedema therapist, like Resie Collins, OTR/L, may help you regain range of motion quickly and safely and return to normal activities of daily living. At UC San Diego Health, patients who undergo breast cancer surgery are seen the day after surgery. Why is rehabilitation necessary? Resie explains go.ucsd.edu/3lSaFv1

UC San Diego Health geriatric emergency department earned a Level 1 accreditation from American College of Emergency Physicians - ACEP, the only geriatric emergency room in California recognized for providing this level of comprehensive care to senior patients. All older patients who arrive at our La Jolla ER's geriatric emergency department are treated by a team specializing in geriatric medicine, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and social workers. They have expertise in fall risks, mobility challenges, cognitive and memory problems, and medication interactions. To learn more about how we're making a difference for our seniors, visit go.ucsd.edu/38gkGfs

Annette Whalen saw a TV interview about breast cancer awareness last October and it reminded her to schedule a mammogram. Good thing she did. A couple months later, her screening detected ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS, meaning the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast had become cancer. I was ‘fortunate’ that it had not spread into the breast tissue, said Whalen. The team at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center discussed her diagnosis and treatment plan options. Wha...len decided to have her breast removed and get breast reconstruction with free flap surgery. This technique utilizes a patient’s own tissue, usually from the abdomen, to form the shape of a breast. This creates a natural looking breast and because it is their own tissue, it will age and change naturally. Whalen understood that the procedure would require a more extensive surgery in the beginning, but would eliminate the need for future surgeries related to having instead used implants. Essentially, it's reconstruction that lasts a lifetime. She stayed at that hospital for three nights and after a couple weeks she felt back to normal. I thought recovery would be complicated and painful. It was uncomfortable at times, but the process was straightforward and the outcome was fantastic, she said. I made changes to what I eat and am in the best shape of my life. I feel better about myself and I'm grateful for my surgeon. Whalen was pleased to find a surgeon in San Diego who performed the free flap surgery. Dr. Christopher Reid is a plastic surgeon with expertise in microsurgery, breast reconstruction, complex reconstruction, and cosmetic surgery of the breast and body. He can perform every type of breast reconstruction, and encourages patients to decide for themselves. Learn more about Dr. Reid go.ucsd.edu/37dIySN Whalen wants women to get their mammogram and if they need breast reconstruction to consider the flap procedure. It doesn’t take long to get the screening. If cancer is detected early, you can take care of it before it spreads, she said. To learn about breast reconstruction options, visit go.ucsd.edu/3dy1rkF.

We are excited to announce the opening of our new plastic and reconstructive surgery clinic in La Jolla, located at 4520 Executive Drive. The state-of-the-art facility offers comprehensive reconstruction with the expansion of microsurgical breast reconstruction, lymphedema reconstruction and lower extremity reconstruction, as well as cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures. To learn more about our plastic and reconstructive surgery services, visit go.ucsd.edu/37pQkZW

It is rare, but according to the Centers for for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 out of every 100 breast cancer diagnoses occur in men. The most common type of breast cancer in men is the same as those in women. Although the cause of breast cancer in men is not well understood, several factors increase a man’s risk including genetic mutations. National guidelines recommend that men who carry a BRCA2 mutation have annual breast exams and undergo prostate cancer screeni...ng. Some families with a BRCA mutation may consider joining a high-risk pancreatic cancer-screening program, like the one available at UC San Diego Health. Questions about BRCA or other testing? Our Family Cancer Genetics Program can help go.ucsd.edu/2Q6rYcL

To keep your baby safe while sleeping, experts recommend practicing the "ABCs" of sleep. Eustratia Hubbard, MD, director of newborn services, discusses ways to significantly decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). bit.ly/3k7M70x

During the World Health Organization (WHO) Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, UC San Diego Health certified nurse-midwives are celebrating 20 years of providing midwifery care. Since the practice began, 17,000 babies have been born to families in the care of our certified nurse-midwives (CNMs). We'd like to congratulate our 17,000th family: Ana, Michael, and baby Isobel. "This success and longevity is the result of the work and dedication of so many nurse-midwives, as well ...as support from physicians, nurses, doulas, and administrators. Special thanks to Mayri Sagady, Cindy Dickinson, and Dr. Tom Moore for getting the midwifery service started and to Dr. Tom Kelly who has been our medical director for twenty years," said Karen Perdion, UCSD Nurse-Midwifery service director. To learn more about our nurse midwifery service, visit go.ucsd.edu/2nc4qta See more

Please allow extra travel time for your medical appointments on UC San Diego Health’s La Jolla campus. The next phase of a traffic improvement project along Voigt Drive may cause slight delays starting October 19. go.ucsd.edu/3l5MHw3 This ongoing traffic improvement project is in partnership with Caltrans, as part of the North Coast Corridor (NCC) Project.

In 2020, an estimated 276,480 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in this country, and 42,000 breast cancer-related deaths will occur. Early detection will save thousands of lives. On this National Mammography Day, we remind you that UC San Diego Health recommends that at age 40 women undergo mammographic screening for the detection of breast cancer. We offer advanced imaging technologies, including 3-D mammography units, ultrasound, molecular breast imaging and MRI ...suites that offer patients and their radiologists the most advanced technologies and software in Hillcrest, Rancho Bernardo and La Jolla. Schedule your screening today go.ucsd.edu/2divJvI

Congratulations to our nurses who were selected for the Fall 2020 Daisy Award. It's a national honor for nurses who demonstrate excellence through exceptional clinical care, kindness and compassion. Eric Schauer Lauren Hoyos Agnieska Ferens... Adam Kistler Erin Trainer Most nominations are based on patient stories submitted by patients, family members, nursing staff and nursing leadership. go.ucsd.edu/2Y5Zgyc

Angelique Richardson, MD, breast medical oncologist at UC San Diego Health, explains the importance of getting an annual screening for breast cancer. Our Breast Imaging Center sees 14,000 patients each year for screening, and each is examined by a physician who is certified by the American Board of Radiology and has been fellowship-trained in breast imaging. go.ucsd.edu/2fZK9SK To learn more about Dr. Richardson, visit go.ucsd.edu/3nG0Wto

We are missing watching San Diego Padres play but are so proud of them for making it to the post season and being by their side throughout it all. We can’t wait to see what the next season has in store! #FriarFaithful

You may want to stand up instead of sit down when you read this news. Two research teams at UC San Diego School of Medicine sought to understand sedentary lifestyles, with one study finding that even light physical activity, including just standing, can benefit health, and the other that Americans are sitting too much.

"Go Dr. Jay Buenaflor! We're glad to see improvement. Our 3GH ICU and ECMO team members are pulling for you!" said Robert Owens, MD, a pulmonary, critical care and sleep specialist. The father of three children who had COVID-19 details the grueling path back to life after 52 days spent on life-saving machine.

With the novel coronavirus still infecting thousands of people a day, public health officials worry that a bad flu season could overwhelm hospitals and clinics that are already stretched thin. The best thing you can do to make sure that doesn’t happen: Get a flu shot. go.ucsd.edu/2pUbJXB