Harry Salinas, Plastic Surgeon at Miami Cancer Institute, says supporting a cancer patient is a tough process. “They often come to our office right after they’ve been told that they have breast cancer and they need a mastectomy. The consultations tend to be very emotional and family support is so important, it is so nice when the patient shows up to the office with family members that are there to help them, to tell them everything will be okay”.

Miguel Angel Medina, Director of Microsurgery at the same institution, points out family is critical. “We have a large social service, support base recovery groups within the MCI community, post-operative rehabilitation groups, so they don’t have to feel alone,” he says.