National No BRA Day

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the third Wednesday of October, millions of women leave their bras at home to bring attention to breast reconstruction after cancer.

National No BRA Day originated in Canada where Dr. Mitchell Brown, plastic surgeon, created Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day. The day was originally designed to educate breast cancer patients about mastectomy surgeries and the choice of reconstruction.

About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime; however, the good news is the 5-year overall survival for women with stage I breast cancer has increased 90 percent. Along with the increased survival rates, the options for breast reconstruction has also increased and improved.

Whether you have had breast cancer, know someone who has (or does), we should all be diligent about knowing the facts and learning how to help those affected by this disease. Watch this short video, and share it with your girlfriends; it offers a clinical look at what to expect with reconstructive surgery.