The are 2 parts of the problem that need to be solved:

• Part 1. We need to help Sheila find a leading plastic/reconstructive surgical team so that she can get back to feeling herself and to restore a sense of dignity and confidence about her body.
• Part 2.

  Aside from educating patients and the healthcare community about the various surgical reconstruction options available for patients with breast cancer (and those taking prophylactic measures), the education campaign which is being formed by the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act, must work to educate each and every patient whose number one concern for reconstructive surgery is, “What am I going to look like after?”

• The current method; plastic surgeons show patients examples of their finest work which highlight their surgical style. They may supplement this with a pencil diagram of surgical sites or 3-D graphic renderings of a generic female form. And some surgeons just describe their direction with hand gestures. Patients who go into surgery and do not understand what they can expect from their own body take a huge risk on an irreversible surgery. The solution to this; those operating under the plastic, reconstructive, or cosmetic surgeon title provide visual information of the patients own body and to apply projections so that the patients will have more knowledge of what they can expect for their own body and understand their surgeon's vision.

• In the cosmetic surgery realm, most surgeons give their patients this information so that they understand how subtle modifications can be transformative, but in the world of breast cancer, where the modifications sometimes are not as subtle, there is still limited and generic information given to the patient who has to make an enormous and irreversible decision. 

• In a country with medical leadership, it is unacceptable to have results like Sheila’s surface and the medical community to shrug their shoulders. This must find its way within surgical protocol so that all patients considering breast reconstruction understand fully what they can expect for their own body. Redesigning the body is a creative process and surgeons must share their vision with their patients prior to surgery.

• Another way to educate the patient is to define the difference between a reconstructed breast vs. an augmented breast. Some make an assumption that since they have a plastic surgeon their body will come out perfectly, perhaps better than before surgery. Some get to experience a silver lining, but for others, it can be their worst nightmare.

• With surgery, there may be complications. There must be an infection protocol for any of the surgical options listed in the Breast Cancer Patient Act and educate what makes patients prone to complications so that patients can weigh the risk involved with each surgical option.

• With any of the surgical options, there are risks of a lifetime of chronic pain, nerve damage and lymphedema. This should be addressed for each surgical option and there must be an association of specialists that handle breast reconstruction patients.

• There could be a separate association of "vouched for" plastic/reconstructive surgeons that work only with patients of breast cancer (and those taking prophylactic measures), have a track record for great results and an intuitive bedside manner. This could help patients make careful and educated decisions and prevent results like Sheila's or any other mishandled results from happening.