Facing a breast cancer diagnosis often comes with a flood of complex questions and overwhelming emotions surrounding surgical choices, physical appearance, and post-treatment identity.
To address those fears and open up supportive, candid conversations, UTMB Health hosts its annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day on October 21. The international initiative focuses on empowering patients, fostering open dialog, and ensuring every woman understands her options for feeling whole again.
Marking its 14th year at UTMB Health, BRA Day embraces a space-inspired theme for this year’s gathering: A Giant Leap for Breast Reconstruction—a message reinforcing that every patient deserves options.
Connecting patients with care and clarity
While federal legislation has long mandated insurance coverage for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, many patients remain uninformed about reconstructive choices during their initial oncology consultations. BRA Day exists to bridge that gap in a warm, welcoming environment far removed from clinical walls.
For Dr. Linda Phillips, Chief of Plastic Surgery at UTMB Health, the event offers a crucial opportunity to reassure anyone navigating a diagnosis or supporting a loved one.
“First and most importantly, you’re not alone,” Dr. Phillips says. “Secondly, there are lots of people who are resources that we want to connect you with. And thirdly, we want to reach out also to the friends and family who are there to support you, because they are going through tough times as well.”
Held along the Skybridge at the UTMB Health League City Campus, the evening event brings together patients, families, surgical oncologists, reconstructive surgeons, care coordinators, and local community vendors. By shifting discussions from formal exam rooms to an interactive community gathering, attendees gain a unique opportunity to connect directly with care teams.
“The primary goal is to take care of the cancer,” Dr. Phillips says. “And the secondary goal is to make the patient feel whole again.”
A celebration of strength and community
While BRA Day addresses serious topics such as genetic risk testing, screening access, and individual surgical paths, it is also a spirited celebration of survivorship.
Attendees can look forward to interactive discussions with faculty, patient survivor stories, local vendor tables featuring specialized health and wellness products, and the fan-favorite decorated bra contest and runway show. Each year, male faculty members, residents, and UTMB Police Department officers star in a lighthearted catwalk strut to model participant-decorated bras reflecting the event’s theme.
Whether someone has just received a fresh diagnosis, is weighing reconstructive options, or is navigating emotional recovery years later, BRA Day offers a supportive landing pad for every stage of the journey.
“You don't go back to the way things were; you find a new normal,” recalls breast cancer survivor and UTMB Health patient Lynn Schultz, who attended her first event freshly diagnosed and returned the following year. “BRA Day is a reminder of the incredible support, strength, and love that surround us along the way.”
Event Details
What: 14th Annual BRA Day: A Giant Leap for Breast Reconstruction
When: October 21, 5:30 p.m.
Where: UTMB Health League City Campus Skybridge
Who: patients, survivors, families, and community members
https://events.utmb.edu/event/bra-day