What Is DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction? A CareMount Medical Expert Explains What Is DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction? A CareMount Medical Expert Explains
What Is Diep Flap Breast Reconstruction? A CareMount Medical Expert Explains Women undergoing single or double mastectomy as part of their breast cancer treatment have the option to select an advanced microsurgical plastic surgery technique – the DIEP flap – for autologous tissue breast reconstruction. DIEP is an acronym for Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator, the system of lower abdominal wall blood vessels that are used to perfuse the tissue for the newly reconstructed breast. This muscle-sparing procedure, which has gained increased popularity among breast cancer patients who are undergoing complete breast removal, effectively recreates one or both breasts…
North Jersey Mom Marisa Aversa Dies After Battle With Breast Cancer, 43 North Jersey Mom Marisa Aversa Dies After Battle With Breast Cancer, 43
North Jersey Mom Marisa Aversa Dies After Battle With Breast Cancer, 43 Bergen County mom Marisa Aversa (Cucciniello) died Thursday, Sept. 20 after a three-year battle with breast cancer. She was 43 years old. Born in Westwood and raised in Montvale, Marisa lived in Massachusetts, Montana, Georgia and Florida before settling in Fair Lawn 12 years ago.  A trained pastry chef and restaurant manager with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America, Marisa had worked as an office manager at Yankee Linen in Paterson for many years. She volunteered with the Girl Scouts in Fair Lawn and was a religious education teacher at St. Anne's Church. She also helped with …
Good Samaritan Hospital Awarded Funds To Benefit At-Risk Patients Good Samaritan Hospital Awarded Funds To Benefit At-Risk Patients
Good Samaritan Hospital Awarded Funds To Benefit At-Risk Patients In order to further its support for medically at-risk, low-income patients with limited or no health insurance, Good Samaritan Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, has been awarded $40,000 in Mission Grant funds from Bon Secours Health System.  Nearly $20,000 was awarded to help initiate the Genetic Counseling and Diagnostic Testing: Improving Outcomes for Women At-Risk for Breast Cancer program. Good Samaritan Hospital’s Center for Breast Health will oversee this program, ensuring that high-risk women with poor to no health insurance can receive genetic couns…
Care At Every Age: WMC Explains Preventative Screenings For Women Care At Every Age: WMC Explains Preventative Screenings For Women
Care At Every Age: WMC Explains Preventative Screenings For Women Regardless of a woman's age, being proactive and having routine preventative check-ups is key in discovering potentially dangerous illnesses before they result in larger issues. Below, the women's health experts at Westchester Medical Center explain the important procedures for women of every age. Age 21: Pap test for cervical cancer. Doctors recommend this screening every three years until age 30 and then every five years, along with Human papillomavirus (HPV) co-testing, ending at age 65 if you’re not at high risk for cervical cancer. Discuss concerns with your OB-GYN at your annual exam. …
Fox Business Anchor From Westchester Honored For Coverage Of Cancer Battle Fox Business Anchor From Westchester Honored For Coverage Of Cancer Battle
Fox Business Anchor From Westchester Honored For Coverage Of Cancer Battle Fox Business anchor and Hartsdale resident Gerri Willis was honored Wednesday, May 23 by the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the Impact Awards in Manhattan. Willis received the 2018 “Surviving with Impact” award.  This past September, Fox News/Fox Business sponsored “Team Gerri’ in the Susan G. Komen NYC Race for the Cure where she raised over $21,000, ranking in the top 10 donors. Willis was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in April 2016 and had to start treatment immediately.  After a few months medical leave, Willis decided to go back to work while continuing treatment. As…
Bergen Girls Softball Teams Flock To Demarest For Breast Cancer Tournament Bergen Girls Softball Teams Flock To Demarest For Breast Cancer Tournament
Bergen Girls Softball Teams Flock To Demarest For Breast Cancer Tournament DEMAREST, N.J. – Girls softball teams from around Bergen County will converge Saturday in Demarest for the 8th annual Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Challenge. Northern Valley High School hosts the fund-raising tournament beginning at 9 a.m. at Varsity Softball Field, 150 Knickerbocker Road: 9 a.m.: Demarest vs. Fort Lee 11 a.m.: Passaic Valley vs. Westwood 1 p.m.: Cliffside Park vs Bergenfield 3 p.m.: Holy Angels vs Northern Highlands 5 p.m.: Dumont vs Tenafly Entrance fee is $2 per person, $5 per family. There will be breakfast and lunch concessions. The non-profit Susan G. Komen Breast …
Area Family Adopts Teens After Death Of Mother Area Family Adopts Teens After Death Of Mother
Area Family Adopts Teens After Death Of Mother A pair of Rockland County first responders have found a new way to save some lives. The community is rallying around New City residents Carol and Marc Ackerman, who have agreed to take in a pair of teenagers who lost their mother to breast cancer earlier this month at the age of 37. In response, the Ackermans - Carol is an EMT with the New City Ambulance Corp. and Marc is a volunteer firefighter - agreed to take in Molly and Eli Kaye - who they met at Surprise Lake Camp in Cold Spring eight years ago - who will become their legal guardians following legal proceedings. “We promised to keep …
PHOTOS: Pink Heals Crew Surprises Cancer-Fighting Ridgefield Mom PHOTOS: Pink Heals Crew Surprises Cancer-Fighting Ridgefield Mom
Photos: Pink Heals Crew Surprises Cancer-Fighting Ridgefield Mom RIDGEFIELD, N.J. -- After they helped extinguish an Easter Sunday blaze in Ridgefield, firefighting members of Pink Heals Bergen County discovered that the homeowner was waging her own battle -- against breast cancer. So this Sunday they returned for a very different type of visit. AnnMarie Carrier “was truly surprised” when Pink Heals members united with Ridgefield firefighters to come by with flowers and heartfelt support, said her daughter, Danielle. “AnnMarie is one the sweetest people we’ve ever met and her entire family blew us away with their kindness and warmth,” Pink Heals organiz…
Phelps Eases Anxiety In Breast Cancer Patients With Unique Approach Phelps Eases Anxiety In Breast Cancer Patients With Unique Approach
Phelps Eases Anxiety In Breast Cancer Patients With Unique Approach “With advanced procedures and the latest technology, a patient can literally have breast cancer one week and be cancer-free the next,” said Alice Police, MD, FACS, Northwell’s regional director of breast surgery in Westchester County. Police has developed a comprehensive breast program at Phelps and Northern Westchester Hospitals that cuts through the typically long process so treatment can get started quickly. “It decreases anxiety and gets things done so that a woman can get back to her life,” she said. Precise surgical treatment is key to the care that Police provides. She uses a surgical…
Valley-Mount Sinai Offers Breakthrough Breast Cancer Treatment Valley-Mount Sinai Offers Breakthrough Breast Cancer Treatment
Valley-Mount Sinai Offers Breakthrough Breast Cancer Treatment RIDGEWOOD, N.J. -- Physicians at Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care have begun offering area women with early-stage breast cancer a breakthrough treatment. The innovative procedure delivers an entire course of radiation therapy to the patient in the operating room following a lumpectomy, thereby eliminating the need for what is typically weeks of post-surgery radiation. For patients this means shorter treatment times, fewer side effects, reduced costs, added convenience and an improved quality of life. The procedure also limits radiation exposure to the heart. Candidates for breas…
Sleepy Hollow Singer Puts Life Experiences To Music Sleepy Hollow Singer Puts Life Experiences To Music
Sleepy Hollow Singer Puts Life Experiences To Music She's only 23 but in a way, she's lived a lot of lives. Now, Bianca Muñiz is taking those experiences and putting them to music: The Sleepy Hollow resident -- and two-time cancer survivor -- has her first full-length album, "For You" set to debut in summer, 2018.  It's dedicated to her longtime friend, Miles Applebaum, who she met at Lagond Music School in Elmsford when they were 15-years-old, and who passed away in 2014. She credits Applebaum, in fact, for turning her onto different kinds of music, many of which can be heard in her recent works. Her style is described as “Avant…
Breast Surgeon Alice Police, Cancer 'Game-Changer,' Joins Northwell Health Breast Surgeon Alice Police, Cancer 'Game-Changer,' Joins Northwell Health
Breast Surgeon Alice Police, Cancer 'Game-Changer,' Joins Northwell Health Renowned breast surgeon Alice M. Police, MD, FACS, has joined the Northwell Health Cancer Institute as regional director of breast surgery in Westchester County.  Widely recognized as a "game-changer" in the surgical treatment of breast cancer, Dr. Police is now accepting patients at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow and The Breast Institute at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, further strengthening the comprehensive teams of medical, surgical and radiation oncologists at both facilities. Based on her patients’ needs, Dr. Police …