A Seno Nudo
Fourteen women tell how modern plastic and reconstructive surgery gave them back their smile
Cristina Garusi, Isabella Balena, Anna Di Cagno
Tecniche Nuove, Milan, 2012. In Italian
ISBN 978-88-481-2781-3
The book
More and more women recover from breast cancer, and after the tumour is removed the best method of reconstruction has to be found: one that brings together surgical requirements and the patient's own wishes and "ideal breast". From this starting point, the book describes in detail every technique used, alongside interviews with fourteen women who found their smile again after surgery.
A long seller. All royalties are donated to the IEO Foundation. The book's photographs were part of the international "Save the Nipple" campaign.
Presented in Milan, Lecce, Palermo, Pisa, Sarzana, Brescia, Padua, Bari, Mestre, Trento
From the foreword
Translated from the Italian.
“Empathy, in the philosophical sense from which the word comes, means putting yourself in the patient's place, making their needs your own, suffering and rejoicing with them, comforting them as the illness evolves. It is no easy task, and it asks for an emotional involvement beyond what medicine has taught us, but it marks the great step from 'treating a patient' to 'caring for' their life. This matters all the more when one has to accept the idea, and the difficult course, of cancer. Leafing through this beautiful book, one sees that this aim has been fully understood, shared and lived.”
“With its technical information and the precious detail of its testimonies, this book will give readers valuable help in facing breast cancer and in making the right decision about reconstruction.”
The fourteen women
Each story comes with a clinical note by Dr Cristina Garusi explaining the surgical technique used.
Simona F.
46, mezzo-soprano
Immediate partial reconstruction
Maria Pia
55, administrative director
Immediate partial reconstruction
Maria Elisa
36, office worker
Immediate partial reconstruction
Marinella
48, architect
Implant reconstruction
Maria
52, jewellery designer
Reconstruction
Valeria
66, entrepreneur
Total reconstruction, microsurgical flap
Eudilia
58, primary school teacher
Total reconstruction, implant
Piermaria
57, widow, two children
Total reconstruction, microsurgical flap
Nicoletta
48, entrepreneur
Total reconstruction, DIEP flap
Irene
61, retired
Total reconstruction
Silvana
60, shopkeeper
Total or partial reconstruction, flap
Elisabetta
40, mother
Total or partial reconstruction
Rosaria
44, office worker, married, one child
Total or partial reconstruction, latissimus dorsi flap
Simona M.
35, office worker
Total or partial reconstruction, flap
The authors
Cristina Garusi
Plastic surgeon and microsurgeon at IEO since 1997. Her focus is breast reconstruction, with a particular interest in microsurgery and the microsurgical treatment of lymphoedema.
Isabella Balena
Photojournalist, born in Rimini, based in Milan. Since 1991 she has covered social issues, including in conflict zones, for Italian and international publications.
Anna Di Cagno
Journalist, born in Bari, based in Milan. Since 1994 she has written about women's issues for lifestyle and current affairs magazines.
Introduction, acknowledgements
The full text of the introduction will be published soon. The full text of the acknowledgements will be published soon.