Book Description

“Build-A-Boob” is the inspirational story of one woman’s refusal to give up on having her breasts and her life restored after breast cancer radiation destroyed her chest at the age of 46. Breast cancer affects us all. Most of us know someone who has it or has had it. What we don’t know and don’t often hear about are the stories of pain and the physical and emotional scars that are left behind. This is about survival .........after the cure. Her story offers hope to millions of women, showing how actually using liposuction can rebuild a breast by regenerating one’s own skin. Very few plastic surgeons are currently using this procedure and this is an important issue for all women. The technique of using liposuction to rebuild a breast in its entirety is not new. What is new is that Lisa Masters’ stems cells from her fat totally restored the skin and fat damaged by radiation allowing the eventual insertion of a permanent implant. All of this was done through trial and error, and her plastic surgeon, Dr. Sergio Zamora says that this procedure works every single time. The process took four and half years to complete. In addition, she addresses medical insurance concerns and how her HMO, Florida Health Care BC/BS, supported her through this lengthy process. Lisa, like millions after being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, went through the typical therapies. She underwent two lumpectomies, chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy followed by immediate reconstruction with the insertion of tissue expanders and a hysterectomy. When she healed from the surgeries, she had radiation therapy. It only took 15 additional surgeries, but, Lisa Masters now has two breasts and a purpose...to spread the word and break the silence of those who live with the scars that breast cancer has left behind. The book is written from her perspective which includes 25 very graphic breast photos from beginning to end along with her own photo in order to make the story personal. The medical photos alone tell a story of success and they are difficult to look at. However, she feels those photos must be shown to the world and must be connected to a face; her face. Build-A-Boob talks about Lisa Masters’ family and their life prior to cancer. The book also talks about the toil this disease took on everyone involved. “Build-A-Boob” is a story of failure, pain, determination and success told with humor and optimism that involves a tenacious plastic surgeon and a woman who never settled. Included is a “Forward” written by plastic surgeon Dr. Sergio Zamora, Daytona Beach, FL