Planning a trip? Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, having a properly stocked first-aid kit is essential, and can be a life saver! You should always carry a prepackaged first-aid kit or a DIY kit. If you decide to make your own kit, use our list below to get you started. Most of these items are available over-the-counter (OTC)...
Vitamin D is amazing. It makes our bones and teeth strong by regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. It facilitates normal immune system function. It lowers the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS), heart disease, the flu, and type 2 diabetes. It assists in weight loss and can even stave off depression. How do you make sure to get...
My work allows me to talk almost daily with women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. They are facing or undergoing surgery or other treatment, and need the support of Masthead products. But I also talk to many women who simply want to know what they can do to reduce their chances of developing the disease. According to the...
Planning to see your doctor or other health care provider in the coming weeks? Maybe it’s time to adjust expectations. Most physicians who are not on the front lines (i.e. in ERs or ICUs, or in hospital wards treating COVID-19 patients) have been “seeing patients” through a computer screen or speaking with them over the phone. While telemedicine works well...
I am writing this from the Masthead offices in New York, where we are working with a trimmed-down staff each day to ensure that our bras and other recovery products get to the hospitals and patients that need them in as timely a manner as possible. We continue to be inspired by the emails and calls we get from you,...
Sara Kerr Reges, my best friend from childhood, is a nurse navigator who divides her time between the traumatic brain injury and breast cancer departments. Although you might think those two areas have nothing to do with each other, in Sara’s case they do. Twelve years ago, her then-eight-year-old son Charles suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit by...
One of my best friends had a bad outcome from surgery. A devastating complication that left her emotionally and physically scarred. Irreversibly. Once she accepted the outcome, she then became angry. Not only had the technical skills been far below her expectations, but also the surgeon handled the complication by telling her that there “...was nothing else to do. Accept...
When my third child was born prematurely, he went directly to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) because his lungs were not developed. He was diagnosed with Hyaline Membrane Disease now known as Surfactant Deficiency. Former President John F Kennedy’s third child died of this disease. In the NICU, my son was in an isolette receiving a special medication directly...
Feel it on the first. This simple expression was devised to help women remember to check their breasts regularly at the beginning of each month. You know your body better than anyone. Self-exam, though certainly not the only recommended screening tool for women with average risk of breast cancer, should be your first line of health defense. By becoming familiar...
Each year for Breast Cancer Awareness Month we publish our updated 31 Interesting Facts About Breasts, a collection of fascinating tidbits about that beautiful part of the anatomy that never ceases to fascinate. This year's list includes some sobering news (one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lives) and some surprising statistics (the average American woman wears a...
This week my children headed back to school. They were excited but anxious about the “unknowns” in the year ahead. It’s exhilarating to learn new skills and information, and to meet new people. There are many things you can do to help yourself maximize your own learning and longevity even if you are beyond school age. Here are a few...
In the pre-op packet given to patients before surgery, physicians often suggest leaving all personal valuables at home. For many of us, this should include our cell phone. Here are some reasons why, as well as some tips for how to do it: Phones are Disruptive Many hospital floors are filled with sensitive electronic monitors and devices. Cell phone signals...
The Back-to-School sales are on, but the calendar says August, which means the hottest days of summer are still upon us. For several weeks now we have seen the thermometers registering over 100 degrees across a lot of the country, causing wildfires in the west and heavy, humid air in the east. Everywhere, beaches and pools are full. It’s important...
Speak to any woman who has undergone breast surgery, and she’ll tell you that you need to pack more than front-close pajamas to make your time in the hospital comfortable. Here is a list of the top 7 things that will help you through both your hospital stay and the transition home: The right bag is an important place to...
Why is it so hard to remember what doctors and nurses tell patients about the Jackson-Pratt, or JP, drains that virtually all patients need after mastectomy? When you are in the initial consultation you hear “you’ll have a few drains,” referring to the little plastic bulbs that siphon fluids away from the surgical site through flat tubing. You might be...
Over the last two weeks we’ve heard from many customers, colleagues and friends who want to know which surgical bra the character Xiomara is wearing after undergoing a mastectomy in a recent episode of the hit TV show Jane the Virgin. Well…we are happy – and honored-- to report that it is our Masthead Elizabeth Pink Surgical Bra®! Xo, as...