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Test Those Breasts ™️
This podcast by Jamie Vaughn is a deep-dive discussion on a myriad of breast cancer topics, such as early detection, the initial shock of diagnosis, testing/scans, treatment, loss of hair, caregiving, surgery, emotional support, and advocacy.
These episodes will include breast cancer survivors, thrivers, caregivers, surgeons, oncologists, therapists, and other specialists who can speak to many different topics.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and not all information in this podcast comes from qualified health care providers, therefore does not constitute medical advice. For personalized medical advice, you should reach out to one of the qualified healthcare providers interviewed on this podcast and/or seek medical advice from your own providers.
Test Those Breasts ™️
Episode 64: Overcoming Implant Illness & DCIS: Stephanie Grimaldi-Lang's Fight for Health & Advocacy
What do you do when your body rejects something meant to enhance it? On this episode of "Test Those Breasts," we sit down with Stephanie Grimaldi-Lang, a breast cancer survivor who faced an unexpected battle after discovering her breast implants were causing her illness. From her joyous family life filled with boating and off-road adventures, Stephanie opens up about the grueling journey from her breast implant illness diagnosis to finding David Light MD , a renowned breast surgeon, and making the life-altering decision to remove her implants. Stephanie’s candid recount of her research and resilience offers a raw look into the complexities of breast health.
Stephanie's story doesn't end there. Faced with the challenge of a DCIS diagnosis in 2020, she had to navigate tough choices between radiation therapy and a double mastectomy. Through her experience with DIEP Flap reconstruction, we delve into the importance of self-advocacy and obtaining multiple medical opinions. This episode is not just for those navigating breast cancer; it's a testament to early detection, medical guidance, and the power of community support.
Stephanie on Instagram
Breast Implant Illness Info on Instagram
Dr. David Light on Test Those Breasts
Steph's Story on Learn Look Locate
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I am not a doctor and not all information in this podcast comes from qualified healthcare providers, therefore may not constitute medical advice. For personalized medical advice, you should reach out to one of the qualified healthcare providers interviewed on this podcast and/or seek medical advice from your own providers .
Hello friends, welcome back to the Test those Breasts podcast. I am your host, jamie Vaughn. I'm a retired teacher of 20 years and a breast cancer thriver turned staunch, unapologetic, loud supporter and advocate for others, bringing education and awareness through a myriad of medical experts, therapists, caregivers and other survivors. A breast cancer diagnosis is incredibly overwhelming, with the mounds of information out there, and other survivors A breast cancer diagnosis is incredibly overwhelming, with the mounds of information out there, especially on Dr Google. I get it. I'm not a doctor and I know how important it is to uncover accurate information, which is my ongoing mission through my nonprofit. The podcast includes personal stories and opinions from breast cancer survivors and professional physicians, providing the most up-to-date information. At the time of recording Evidence, research and practices are always changing, so please check the date of the recording and always refer to your medical professionals for the most up-to-date information. I hope you find this podcast a source of inspiration and support from my guests. Their contact information is in the show notes, so please feel free to reach out to them. We have an enormous breast cancer community ready to support you in so many ways.
Speaker 1:Now let's listen to the next episode of Test those Breasts. Hey friends, welcome back to this episode of Test those Breasts. I am your host, jamie Vaughn, and today I am so excited to have my friend Stephanie Grimaldi-Lang on my show. So Stephanie is a breast cancer survivor who was born and raised on Long Island, new York, and she has deep roots in her community. She is a proud mother of three wonderful children and she shares a loving partnership with her husband, alan. Stephanie's commitment to her family is as strong as her dedication to her career, and she effortlessly balances both aspects of her life. Additionally, stephanie has a passion for boating, finding joy in exploring the serene waters surrounding Asher Oaken. Did I say that right, stephanie? You did, you did, you did Awesome. She also enjoys the thrill of riding four wheelers, embracing the adrenaline, rush and the freedom of off-road adventures.
Speaker 2:Well, that sounds like a lot of fun. Stephanie, how are you? Today? I'm doing? Wonderful. How are you? I'm?
Speaker 1:doing great. We were just talking before we started recording, about pronunciations of words and sometimes it's very challenging for people, but we just, you know, we have to make sure that we're just practicing right and we're all human.
Speaker 1:I'm thinking right, that's right. Well, so I want to let my audience know that I met you and you're actually the one who led me to Dr David Light, who is a breast surgeon in New York, and I just interviewed him and his episode is releasing tomorrow, june 11, 2024, which is a Tuesday, but that is also another special day weird day for me. Actually, it is the two year anniversary of my breast cancer diagnosis, so it just happens to land on June 11th.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I just appreciate your leading me to him because, as my audience knows, I'm always seeking out all of the wonderful like top-notch breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, microsurgeons around our country, so that people have more options about where to go, and so I had such a wonderful conversation with him and, thanks to you, I was able to meet him. You are one of his patients and we're going to talk about that a little bit later, but first I want to find out more about Stephanie. Who were you before breast cancer? What was going on Life?
Speaker 2:was good. Life was really good and when I say that I'm married, I have a wonderful family, a blended family. I had the opportunity to purchase a second home in Naples, florida, which is that's my happy place. I love it there. Things were just going great. Life was so good. Married life was great, second home was great. We were enjoying life and I decided in October well, actually, let me back up a little bit I decided in 2019 because I had breast implants and I had them for cosmetic reasons.
Speaker 2:It was time for me to, you know, change my implants because they're not lifetime devices Every 10 years. You know, you got to go and change them and everything. And I just had this. I don't know, I'm going to call it a gut feeling, right, you know what? I don't want them anymore. Just, I don't want them. Let's just take them out. I'm sick of every 10 years going in for surgeries. It's costing me a fortune. Every time you got to go in and I said I just, whatever it is, I don't care, I'll take them out. If I'm an A cup, I'm an A cup, I don't care. I just there was something telling me to take them out.
Speaker 2:I had started with these symptoms and I didn't understand what these symptoms were from. And some of these symptoms I had was like a brain fog. I had skin rashes, I was extremely tired, I had what started out as Hashimoto's, which is a thyroid disease, and I'm thinking like all these different symptoms I was having and I was like, why, where did this come from? Started doing some research back in 2018. And I had found a Facebook group and they were talking about this breast implant illness, which I was like what is breast implant illness? Sure enough, all of my symptoms were of breast implant illness and that was when that light bulb moment went off and I said my implants are causing me all these symptoms. So let's take it out. I'm done, let's go, we're going to go and do this.
Speaker 2:So I did a lot of research. I wanted a plastic surgeon that one understood breast implant illness, because a lot of plastic surgeons don't. They think we're crazy. So I had done my research. I found a doctor in Florida that I was going to go to and when I booked my surgery, it was going to be a year out. I said, okay, it is what it is, it's a year out, it gives me time to save money and I had my surgery scheduled for May of 2020. We all know what happened in 2020. So my surgery that was supposed to be May of 2020 got pushed back to December of 2020. Okay, it is what it is. I wanted to make sure that I was going to this doctor because she understood that not only did I want my implants out, I also wanted the capsule, which is what surrounds the implant that has to be taken out as well. So, okay, I'm going to wait till December of 2020. It is what it is.
Speaker 2:My husband came home one day and says can you do me a favor, can you please just go see a doctor here in New York? I said, alan, I really, really like this doctor. I waited almost a year and a half now. And he said, but please just do me a favor, can you just please go and just have the consultation? So I did and I went to see Dr Light. I met him. He was wonderful. He understood breast implant illness. He understood taking out the capsule. I was like, oh my gosh, okay, this is great, a doctor that understands it. That's here in New York. And he actually had an opening for the surgery, actually October of 2020. So I was like, oh, oh, okay. Well, you know what I'm going to go with it. So I decided on October 5th of 2020 to go in and go and have my explant with what's called. It's called an N-block capsulotomy. That's where they take out that capsule, as well as the implant. It's all intact. So I had that done on October 5th of 2020. And it was a decision.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess so. So it's really interesting that your husband sort of had this intuition, who really kind of pressured you to go and see someone else. It's interesting how those kinds of things can lead us to the best ultimate option.
Speaker 2:So kudos to your husband, yes.
Speaker 1:You know, I do have quite a few friends who had implants and one person years ago had nothing but problems with them, infections all the time. And and it is interesting that you said that there are some plastic surgeons who poo, poo that like they think you're crazy, and you know, I've definitely heard that from surgeons. And then you have other people, other surgeons, who are just like this is real. It kind of makes sense. You have this foreign object in your body, right, and I've talked to so many people who actually went to a surgeon to have them explanted and opted for the deep flap surgery, which or they also some have opted to just stay flat, which is also beautiful and an option, right. So tell us about how your cancer was found.
Speaker 2:So I always say that my explant was the best thing that happened to me, but also the worst thing that happened to me. And when I say that, I say it that it was best thing that happened to me because they were finally out, those toxic bags were out of my body and I was feeling so much better within a couple of days and I said, oh my gosh, I feel like a million dollars those were my exact words, because I really did and he kind of was like oh, and I was kind of just like what do you mean? Oh, like I was kind of like oh, all right, and he said let's talk about your pathology. And as soon as he said that, those words were like a gut-wrenching punch. And I knew because I had worked in a plastic surgeon's office a long time ago, so I knew when a doctor says that it's not good. So I said it's not good. And he had said no, he said they found DCIS on your capsule. So that was the capsule that I wanted taken out, because that was like the most important thing to me.
Speaker 2:And here I find out that I have a three millimeter spot on my capsule and I just remember feeling like I heard him talking, but I didn't hear him talking. It kind of sounded like, you know, charlie Brown and Snoopy, the wah, wah, wah, wah and I'm like what is going on? Like what is DCIS? I knew a little bit about DCIS because three months prior my girlfriend was diagnosed with it. So I do remember when I heard the DCIS I know I'm like wait, I know I heard that before and I know my girlfriend was going through it.
Speaker 1:So can you explain to our audience what you learned about DCIS? What does it mean? What does all that mean?
Speaker 2:So DCIS is ductal carcinoma in stew and what that means is that the cancer is in the milk ducts. It hasn't come out, which is good, but it's still scary, you know, because there's that fine line, because some say it is cancer, some say it's not, but it's that fine line. What I find a little odd or maybe I don't know if I find this coincidental or not or whatever, but my first set of implants that I had were put in in 2000 and I had the textured saline implants put in, which are the ones that are recalled. In 2000, I had my first set, which was the textured saline implants. In 2008, I had an exchange and I went from saline to silicone.
Speaker 2:So when I went for my exchange back in 2008, I had to go for a mammogram and I did that. And when I went for my mammogram and my sonogram, they had seen calcifications on my right breast, which at the time I was like okay, maybe I thought maybe there was. I had too much deodorant, you know. You kind of like choke all this stuff up to. You know it's something. But they kept having me come back and they checked and it wasn't, and at that time I had to go see a breast surgeon because we didn't know what was going on at this particular moment that I had these implants that are showing calcifications. We weren't sure if it was in the implant or if it was in the breast.
Speaker 2:So, in 2008, when I had my exchange, I had to have it done in a hospital because at the time, I wasn't sure if they were going to be able to put the new implants in, because if it was something cancerous, they were just going to take the implants out, and then I was going to go for whatever they had found. It wound up being there was stuff in my implant. Don't know what the stuff was, but there was floating something in my saline implants that was showing on my mammogram. Back in 2008, though, BIA-ALCL was not even a topic, and that is something that they're finding if you have textured saline implants or textured implants that that could lead to that type of cancer. So is it a coincidental? I don't know. It is kind of odd that it was on my right breast, but back in 2008, they saw something. They said it was in the implant, and that was it. Now, fast forward to 2020, the DCIS is in my right breast. So interesting.
Speaker 1:Yeah, coincidental, maybe it did have. I guess, maybe we'll never know, but you had stuff in your stuff. Yeah, I had stuff in my stuff and I don't know what it was.
Speaker 2:Kind of scary.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's always nice to know what the stuff in your stuff is. Right, exactly, okay, when you found out. I want to say that if it travels past the ducts, it's stage two, right Correct.
Speaker 2:I'm not sure what stage, but yes, when DCIS, it stays in. So it's not that it's better, but it's better in the sense that it hasn't left anything it's early.
Speaker 1:Right Early detection is where it's at Test. Anything it's early.
Speaker 2:Right. Early detection is where it's at Test those breasts, that's right.
Speaker 1:So you had a couple things working for you. Number one you had this intuition to go and get those things taken out. You had been feeling ill and it just sort of one thing led to another. Your husband nudged you to go see another doctor. You ran into Dr Light. He was the one who gave you that diagnosis. And then what happened from there? What were your treatments like? And all the, all the things, Stephanie, All the rollercoaster.
Speaker 2:Let's get on that rollercoaster right now. My treatment was because I had just gone through surgery, so I had just had my implants removed, I had a lift done. So I couldn't even possibly think of having any other surgery at this particular moment because I was just like, okay. So my two options were either 17 rounds of radiation or have a double mastectomy. And at this point I just couldn't go down the double mastectomy or even a mastectomy route. At this point I said you know what? I'm going to go down the road and do the 17 rounds of radiation In my situation, because they didn't exactly know where on my right breast it was. I had to have radiation on my entire breast because when they took it out you know, they know it's the right breast they don't know was it at 12 o'clock, was it at two o'clock, was it closer to my chest wall? They didn't exactly know where this piece came from. So that's why they had to do the whole breast. So I did 17 rounds. My last day was on Christmas Eve, which was the best present, because I got to ring that bell. It was amazing. So I did that.
Speaker 2:And then now the next year, year and a half I'm going every three months, whether it's a mammo and a sono, then three months later MRI, then three months later a mammo sono. You know, you go in and you're doing all this and I think it was about nine months into it they had found something. So now I had to. This was the longest weekend of going and having sonos and mammoths or trying to figure it out, they're not sure. So now I spent a whole weekend thinking what? What did they find now? And I'm like, oh my goodness. So I had to wait until the.
Speaker 2:You know, the doctor was back in on Monday to tell me that we're going to have to do a biopsy and now we have to go and biopsy it. So after that I'm I said I'm done, I'm done. I got to get off this rollercoaster ride and I spoke to Dr Light and I said I know we spoke about having a mastectomy. How do we do this? Because I want to do this, I don't want to deal with this anymore and I'm not putting implants back in. So what is my other option? And that's when we discussed that I would have a nipple and skin sparing double mastectomy and I'm going to have a deep flap, so that's where they take the fat from your stomach area and they put it up in your breast, so my breasts look exactly the same. I have my same nipples, same skin. It's just not breast tissue in there, it's the fat from my stomach.
Speaker 1:Okay, so I have a question for you. Do you have any sensation in your breast? I do, I do.
Speaker 2:I have little sensation. My nipples work. They work totally fine. Like it's crazy, because you say to yourself like how is that? But that's all due to Dr Light and being a great microsurgeon and making sure everything was attached. It's definitely not 100% sensation, but I definitely have sensation 100%. Yes, okay.
Speaker 1:That's so good to hear, because I've had surgeons tell me straight up none that I have interviewed but oh, sensation sparing isn't possible. So I always thought, okay, the jury must be out, because that it's, we're not sure. But the real answer is is that it is possible? Everyone is different and it depends on this one surgeon who actually he and I did interview about it. He said that even if there is not a lot of sensation that comes back, if any, it's worth a try, right? So if somebody asks you, do you want to try to do a nerve sparing? I mean, obviously, why not? Right? Especially if you're doing the deep lap or whatever, Right? Yep, yes, I actually had made a comment in a group one time and I said I think that the jury is out on that.
Speaker 1:There are some surgeons who are adamant that that is just not possible, and then there's some that say that it is possible. It wasn't my opinion at all, but somebody came back and said is so inaccurate? And I'm like, okay, well, that's cool, I'm so glad because I don't have a lot of sensation in my breasts. I do on the sides a little bit. I wouldn't really know enough about that. So anyway, I'm glad that she set me straight because I didn't know right and I'm always a learner, always searching for the best and most up-to-date answers on things. So I'm glad to hear that Dr Light was able to do that for you. That makes me so happy. Somebody asked me one time my friends and I I think you probably followed us we went to San Antonio to get our 3D nipple and areola tattoo from Pre and somebody asked me did it hurt? And I said no, I couldn't feel it. Yeah, you know I have a pretty high pain tolerance anyway.
Speaker 1:So I've got, you know, I've got a big old Phoenix on my back and that was pretty painful because it just where it was, but not too bad. But anyway, I was just so happy to hear, though, about nerve sparing because it's a sensation sparing so you went through the radiation. So by this time they saw something else. Did you have to go through any other treatment, like any chemos or anything like that? No, chemo.
Speaker 2:They felt that the radiation was was going to be fine. They wanted me to go on hormone, you know, like tamoxifen or whatever.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I opted not to. I said I just, you know I'm already in menopause, so like rather not, so I opted not to do that. And the radiation I had a wonderful technician. She was absolutely great. Like you would never know that I had radiation. It wasn't like I was burnt or the right side is definitely a little bit more, I'll say firmer in the sense because the skin, you know, but beautiful job, like no discoloration. I mean, she did a really, really great job.
Speaker 1:And then you look great. With the deep flap surgery, dr Light was able to work his magic. And it just makes me so happy to know that I was able to be introduced to yet another amazing microsurgeon and plastic surgeon, because I never even knew about this kind of surgery.
Speaker 2:A lot of people don't. Not everybody's a candidate, right? I happen to be a candidate. I had I called it my little kangaroo pouch that I had. It's crazy because I was like, whatever he's like, I don't know if I'm going to be able to give you the same size that you were before. I said I don't care. I don't care what size I am. If I'm only an A, I'm only an A, I don't care. I'm not putting implants in. Again, that wasn't an option For women out there that can't have it because they don't have the extra fat in their tummy area. I know there's other different flaps. You can get it from the back, you can get it from your thigh. I know there's other methods, but let's just say somebody doesn't have any fat on their body. Then the other choices are is to either have implants or to be flat and listen if that's their only option, as long as they know all the risks that come with having breast implants. You make your own decision, you know, at the end of the day.
Speaker 1:So Right, well, and also getting second opinions. One surgeon says to a person about not being a candidate, another surgeon may say something completely different, and that's why I always say look, you need to go get a second, a third opinion, whatever you know, advocate for yourself. I did find out about this new thing. I had a woman, a really sweet woman, that I actually had a conversation with the other day. She had reached out to me and I think she lives in Florida. I think her daughter lives in California. Anyway, she found my podcast and sent me a message and said hey, I just want to let you know that, because I found your podcast, my daughter has breast cancer and it's because of your podcast that we were able to figure out some options for her surgery, which was awesome. But she emailed me the other day and she said that the surgeon who is offering an option of what's called omentum and I had never heard of it before.
Speaker 1:So I texted my surgeon, dr Cabling, and said hey, what is omentum? And anyway, he got back to me right away. My surgeon is amazing as well and he said it's an organ in your stomach that is full of just fat. It says omentum is an organ inside your abdomen. It's mostly fat and can be used as a flap. There's only one of it, so it can't be used for two sides, it requires microsurgery to transfer it and it doesn't carry skin. So another option, and so it's one that's not used often, but it is an option, and I was like who knew.
Speaker 2:You learn something new every day, right? It's another option, like you said.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So let's kind of go into what is Stephanie doing post-cancer, post-deep flap. Are you working with anyone in the breast cancer community? What's happening with you now?
Speaker 2:I say that this whole journey and the silver lining to this whole thing that I had to go through is that I feel that I'm definitely an advocate for breast implant illness, breast cancer, deep flap. I'm here, I'm an open book, I share my story, I try to help anybody that's going down the road because you know what? There really wasn't anybody helping me. I just kind of. I mean, I'm one of those people that if I need to find answers, I'm going and doing all my homework and everything. So now I have I help people One of the main sources. That I think is a great tool that I'm featured in and so, as Dr Light is a learn, look, locate. That's a great, great avenue for women that have any type of questions having to do with anything with related to breast cancer, breast implant illness, even any type of medicine, and it's just a very, very it's a great source of information.
Speaker 1:And your story's in there. Very, very. It's a great source of information and your story's in there, my story's in there. It is a fantastic resource and, in fact, I will go ahead and put that in the show notes so that people can see where that is, and I have every intention of putting that on my website as well. As people know, my website is still being built. It has some things on there, but ultimately I want to have that resource page where people can go to and learn and like all in one place and learn, look, locate will definitely be on there. I love it. So thank you for helping also tell your story and, you know, helping with the breast cancer community. What kind of advice do you have? What I really love to ask, because this is really powerful what kind of advice do you have for people who've never, ever even been diagnosed with breast cancer?
Speaker 2:The main thing that I want to get out there is to do your homework. If you're thinking about doing you know, getting breast implants, make sure you do all your homework. Make sure that the doctor that you're going to see is giving you all the information, all the pros and the cons and anything that could go down the line. Know that there is a chance that having implants can cause cancer. That's, it can happen, and you know what I mean. The best thing that I feel is and I say this all the time is trust your gut. So if you feel that it's not the right thing to do, then don't do it. If you go and you speak with a doctor and you're not feeling, go get a second opinion. Just trust that gut, because I feel that that is the best thing that's going to help you during any of these processes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Great advice. It's such great advice. I say this pretty much every single time. One of the target audiences that I have for test those breasts are people who've never been diagnosed and because a lot of what we're saying is kind of preaching to the choir, to breast cancer patients or breast cancer survivors right, but they still learn a lot Like being survivors. We're still learning something every day, which is great.
Speaker 1:So my audience is every anyone who has breasts is my audience but I really like to make sure that people who've never even had breast cancer to be paying attention to, because it's what you do, when you're paying attention, that matters, and early detection and intuition is key, absolutely yeah. And then having you know someone not everybody, of course, has a partner, and things like that, but you just had that added icing on the cake, where your husband Alan is like, hey, you need to go to another doctor here. So again, please, you know, pat him on the back for me, because that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, stephanie, this has been wonderful. I noticing I think I have birdies in at our house and you have birdies that you can totally hear your birdies.
Speaker 1:I think it's so cute. You know, some people are so wrapped up in the quality of their podcasts and stuff like that. I mean, I try to do my very best, but I kind of like those little sound effects. Birds are really happy for me. It's good to have a little wildlife over here. Yeah, Sometimes I have dogs barking. One time I was interviewing someone a few months back and there was an earthquake right in the middle of my interview and the dogs were barking, I'm like, and I had felt the house move a little bit.
Speaker 1:I'm like, oh my God, there was just an earthquake just now and I'm going to leave it in the episode. Anyway, well, I just really truly appreciate your taking the time today to talk to us about not only your implant illness and how that led you to finding your cancer and led you to Dr Light, but also your wonderful outlook and what you do for the breast cancer community by telling your story and advice to give to people. Is there anything you would like to say before we disconnect here?
Speaker 2:Just like I said before, trust your gut and, like you said, test those breasts Absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 1:All right, stephanie. Well, you have a good rest of your day and I will see everyone else on the next episode of test thoseasts and I appreciate your joining us. And again, as always, please, on your favorite platform, if you can rate and review this show, that would be very helpful. It always is. It just helps it get out there to more people in the world, and so thank you for that and again, test those Breasts. See you next time.
Speaker 1:Bye, friends, thank you so much for listening to this episode of Test those Breasts. I hope you got some great much needed information that will help you with your journey. As always, I am open to guests to add value to my show, and I'm also open to being a guest on other podcasts where I can add value. So please reach out if you'd like to collaborate. My contact information is in the show notes and, as a reminder, rating, reviewing and sharing this podcast will truly help build a bigger audience all over the world. I thank you for your efforts. I look forward to sharing my next episode of Test those Breasts. Thank you,
