Now What? - by Amy Curran Baker & Marybeth Curran Brown (Paperback)

About the Book

In 2008, Amy Curan was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and opted for bilateral mastectomy with Direct to Implant Reconstruction. Within three weeks of being diagnosed she had a mastectomy and was on the road to recovery. But after the surgery she had a lot of questions, the same that most women will have. As an Occupational Therapist, she knew some of the answers from her own clinical training and experience. But many more came from speaking with other women who had undergone mastectomies, from researching message boards, and a little bit of luck.
Now she and her co-authors have brought together the answers to the questions that women face in chapters that cover everything from how to prepare for going to the hospital to when you come home Amy and her co-authors answer:
Why am I so tired all the time?
What about these drains?
Should I worry about Lymphedema?
Implants or flap procedure?
And more
Although everyone's experience is slightly different depending upon one's individual choice: mastectomy alone or mastectomy with reconstruction; the majority of the information applies to all women who had a mastectomy.
Amy and her co-authors include chapters on key issues all women face including wound management, scar massage,

Book Synopsis

All the information you need after mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery so that you can focus on what matters most: healing and staying well.

Why am I so tired all the time? What about these drains? Should I worry about lymphedema? Your mastectomy (with or without reconstruction) doesnÌt end when you leave the operating room. In Now What?, Amy Curran Baker, an occupational therapist who has had a double mastectomy and direct to implant breast reconstruction, and her co-authors, two registered nurses, answer all of your post-surgery questions in this comprehensive and empowering guide. Now What? helps you:

• Consider your options and make the decisions that are best for you
• Deal with frozen shoulder syndrome, wound care, swollen lymph nodes, and other side effects of mastectomy
• Organize the nitty-gritty issues of wound management post-op care with helpful charts and logs
• Hear real stories from other breast cancer survivors who have had a mastectomy

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Review Quotes

"As a Certified Mastectomy Fitter, I often work with women that have gone through a Mastectomy. This book gave me a greater understanding of the personal and medical challenges they face on a daily basis. Clinical terms are explained in a comfortable, easy manner and it is full of suggestions to ease the healing process. Amy Curran Baker does an excellent job portraying life dealing with breast cancer. I would recommend this book for both mastectomy patients and their caregivers. Good for CFM's to read about recovery from a patient's point of view. This is a great guide for patients! It clearly and concisely explains many aspects of the mastectomy and post mastectomy processes and the helpfulreview of clinical terms will help patients more effectively communicate with their healthcare team.--"Jeanine Doty RN, CPO, Operations Department, Active Life, Inc.
..".an immensely helpful, supportive, realistic and comprehensive book about how to prepare for and what to expect after mastectomy. Curran Baker's writing is honest, clear, empathetic and personable; she covers the full spectrum of experiences on topics like drain management and pain, since every patient is unique. Now What? is an invaluable resource for the breast cancer patient who wants to be prepared and empowered."--CAPHIS, Consumer Newsletter of the Medical Library Association
"When facing mastectomy, you can never ask too many questions, you can only regret not pushing for more details ahead of time. While this is true, you also need true and thorough answers. In Amy Curran Baker's book you find these answers."--Ingrid Kollak, RN, PhD, Co-author: "Yoga and Breast Cancer"
"The open dialogue [in this book] explores the multiple facets of complete healing and heightens the reality that no two journeys are the same. The upbeat and reassuring content is a must read for those considering a mastectomy."--Nancy Sokolowski, RN, Breast Health Specialist, Co-author: The Breast Cancer Companion: