Wednesday, Oct. 17 is Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day at the Owensboro Health Healthpark from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. BRA Day is part of a national campaign, and Owensboro Health Regional Hospital is a registered member of that campaign
This is the fourth year for the event which has typically been held on a much smaller scale as more of an open house at the plastic surgery office.
“We want patients to be happy and comfortable after they’ve faced a common and pretty devastating disease,“ Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Ben Kittinger said. “The breast, it’s the part of a woman that makes a woman a woman.”
This year, the community is invited to the free event that provides resources and options for women that have had a vast array of experiences with breast cancer.
“A lot of this came about because we want people to know they do have options for breast reconstruction,” said Owensboro Health Communications Manager, Somer Wilhite.
“The real shocking statistic for breast cancer is that only about 25% of patients know their options,” Kittinger said. “It’s our responsibility to get that information out to the patient.”
For that reason, the Healthpark will be offering a vendor fair from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for women to learn more about everything from realistic models of breast cancer tissue to the different options available in mastectomy bras.
The fair will also include mini-massages, appetizers, giveaways, and an opportunity to meet Owensboro Health providers and specialists.
Vendors and participants include Owensboro Health Medical Group practices: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Family Medicine in Owensboro, Owensboro Health Medical Group – Hematology & Oncology and Cardiology.
Owensboro Health Healthpark will offer chair massages by staff massage therapists, Exercise is Medicine program, with Health and Wellness Specialist Amber Hesson, Owensboro Health’s Wellness Team and Jamie Smith, representing breast implant manufacturer Allergan.
“After the vendor fair, we’ve got quite the line-up for the panel discussion,” Wilhite said.
The informative discussion panel is scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., featuring Owensboro Health providers involved in all phases of breast cancer treatment. Representatives of the Owensboro Health Panel discussion include OHMG – Surgical Specialists, Dr. Alan Mullins, OHMG – Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Drs. Janae and Ben Kittinger, OHMG – Hematology & Oncology, Dr. Kevin Ridenhour, Owensboro Health Radiation Oncology, Dr. Ryan Abel, OHMG – Family Medicine, Veach, Dr. Becky McKindles, OMHG – Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dr. Rachel Coomer, and Owensboro Health Outpatient Radiology, Dr. Patrick Padgett.
“We’re proud of BRA day,” said Kittinger. “It’s mostly a day about celebrating the ladies that have had breast cancer.”
