Life Reconstructed: Navigating the World of Mastectomies and Breast Reconstruction

by Kim Harms

Overview

1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, but this is not just another cancer book. Breast cancer survivor Kim Harms combines her own experience with extensive research and walks readers through the process of mastectomy and breast reconstruction, weighing the pros and cons, detailing the physical and emotional costs, and laying out the questions cancer fighters need to ask to be their own best advocate. With a foreword by the medical director of Katzmann Breast Center and chapters on everything from the vulnerable feeling of exposing your breasts to “everyone” to the distinctions between reconstruction and augmentation (trust us, it’s not a boob job!), Life Reconstructed is the compassionate, honest roadmap every breast cancer fighter needs on her journey to recovery.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641705677
Publisher:	Familius
Publication date:	09/28/2021
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,044,358
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Kim Harms is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BA in English and an emphasis in journalism. A freelance writer and breast cancer survivor, she lives in Huxley, Iowa, with her husband and three sons and is widely published in magazines, newspapers, and devotionals.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Susan Beck, DO

Introduction

The World Turned Upside Down: When Breast Cancer Came to My House

Chapter 1 
Open to the Front: The Humbling Experience of Sharing Your Breasts with So Many People

Chapter 2
Breast Reconstruction: To Do It or Not to Do It

Chapter 3
It’s Not a Boob Job: The Distinct Differences between Reconstruction and Augmentation

Chapter 4
Be Your Own Advocate: Nobody Knows Your Body Better Than You

Chapter 5
Vignettes from the Hospital: Women Share Their Post-Mastectomy Stories

Chapter 6
At-Home Recovery: It’s Not an Easy Road

Chapter 7
I Feel Ugly: Grieving the Loss of Your Breasts and Discovering a New Normal

Chapter 8
Sex with New Boobs: Reconstruction Is a Game Changer

Chapter 9
This Is Hard for Him Too: A Husband’s Perspective

Chapter 10
Don’t Forget to Include Your Kids: They May Not Ask Questions, but They Have Them

Chapter 11
Humor in the Hurting: Sometimes Laughter Is the Best Medicine

Afterword

Appendix 1
Helpful Items for Recovery

Appendix 2
The History and the Law: The Development of Breast Reconstruction and the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act

Glossary

Recommended Resources
 

Editorial Reviews

"In astonishing honesty and clear detail, Kim Harms takes the reader on an intensely personal journey. She shares experiences and emotions related to her breast reconstructions and illustrates the importance of honorable friends and family, her steadfast faith, and a loving partner."
—Jacqueline Wagner, RN, OCN, CBCN, Marshfield Clinic Health System

"Everyone needs to read this book to educate themselves; not just those who receive a cancer diagnosis . . . EVERYONE! Cancer touches us all in some way. Kim Harms does an excellent job of informing, educating, and offering tips, techniques, and resources. As a mental health therapist and five-year cancer survivor, I am excited to see how much research and valuable information she has packed into this book. It is a MUST read."
—Kathy Thompson, ATR, LPC, CADC, NCC, licensed professional counselor and breast cancer survivor

“Kim Harms has penned a hopeful and helpful book to help women navigating breast cancer. When I first was diagnosed with breast cancer, I tried to read information and books to help me in my treatment decision process. Looking back, I didn’t have a resource to help me navigate the complicated decisions and implications of breast reconstruction. I’m so glad Life Reconstructed is available now. Kim’s story and the many resources she cites gives this book both warmth and substance.”
—Vivian Mabuni, national speaker and author of Warrior in Pink and Open Hands, Willing Heart

"As a general surgeon, I want my patients to be empowered with knowledge that will help them make the best-informed decisions about treatment options and set them up for success in the aftermath of life-altering diagnoses and surgeries. In the realm of breast cancer, mastectomy, and reconstruction, Kim Harms has created an incredible resource for women and for those who love them. Speaking very honestly from personal experience, while also gleaning from the experience of others, Harm’s words are not only empowering but also offer hope."
—Heidi J. Haun, MD, FACS, Baptist Medical Centre, Nalerigu, Ghana

"In Life Reconstructed, Kim Harms takes breast reconstruction—an event far too many women experience—and compassionately guides readers through the process. She skillfully explains the technical issues involved, but also dives into the reactions and emotions that inevitably add to the confusion of breast reconstruction. As a breast cancer plus double mastectomy survivor myself, Life Reconstructed would have been a sweet companion as I traveled through my own journey. May Kim Harm’s words bless and comfort many women."
—Katherine James, breast cancer survivor and author of Can You See Anything Now and A Prayer for Orion

"Women undergoing mastectomies and breast reconstruction need a shoulder to lean on and trustworthy guidance. Cancer survivor Kim Harms delivers that—and so much more. Life Reconstructed provides vital information, vulnerable stories, and perhaps most importantly, an abundance of compassion."
—Dorothy Littell Greco, author of Marriage in the Middle and Making Marriage Beautiful

 

From the Publisher