Prevention
Modern medicine is increasingly transitioning towards preventive care. This shift towards prevention has also been observed in breast cancer care in recent years, particularly with the discovery of the BRCA gene. Subsequently, multiple genes and risk factors have been identified. Depending on these factors, a personalized screening strategy can be chosen. Therefore, it is crucial to understand these genetic and risk factors.
Diagnosis
I was diagnosed with cancer ... This website serves as a portal designed to assist you and your loved ones in accessing personal information and finding solutions to your concerns.
The primary goal of this website is to offer guidance and support to patients as they navigate their journey toward recovery and improved quality of life. The "Diagnosis" section of our website is divided into two main categories. Firstly, under "Anatomy and Physiology," we provide fundamental knowledge about the breast. Secondly, in the "Tumors and Disorders" section, we delve deeper into various breast-related conditions.
Moreover, we aim to provide information to women who may be concerned about potential breast issues but are hesitant to seek immediate medical advice. Knowledge and information can often offer immediate reassurance if a woman is able to identify the issue herself and determine that no specific treatment is necessary. Conversely, we also strive to educate women who have received a diagnosis of a serious breast condition, such as breast cancer, and wish to approach their doctor well-informed and prepared.
Treatment
The treatment for breast cancer should immediately include a discussion about reconstruction. Our foundation has no greater goal than to raise awareness of this among patients and oncological surgeons. By making an informed decision beforehand, we avoid closing off options for later reconstruction while still considering the oncological aspect. Of course, survival is paramount, and the decision of the oncologic surgeon will always take precedence.
The "Reconstruction or not?" page contains all the information you can expect during an initial consultation before undergoing tumor removal. This page is comprehensive, and your plastic surgeon will only provide information relevant to your situation.
"Removing the tumor" details the surgical procedure itself. This is the most crucial operation because effective tumor removal remains paramount. We guide you through the various methods of removal, a decision often made by a multidisciplinary team comprising oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, radiotherapists, breast nurses, gynecologists, oncological surgeons, and plastic surgeons.
The "Breast Reconstruction" section includes information and illustrations of the different reconstruction options along with corresponding steps.
Revalidation
Those treated for cancer often need a long period to recover.
Cancer is a radical illness with a heavy treatment. Often, people have to deal with psychosocial and/or physical problems afterwards, such as stress, anxiety, extreme fatigue, painful joints, reduced fitness, lymphedema... This can have a major impact on general well-being.
There are rehabilitation programmes offered by most hospitals. We cover some of the major topics here.
Quality of life
Quality of life is a key factor in coping with breast cancer. Therefore, it is important to find coping mechanisms that work, which will be different from patient to patient. For some, it may be finding enjoyment in activities they engaged in prior to diagnosis, taking time for appreciating life and expressing gratitude, volunteering, physical exercise... Of prime importance, studies have shown that accepting the disease as a part of one’s life is a key to effective coping, as well as focusing on mental strength to allow the patient to move on with life. In this section we are addressing some topics that patients experience during and after treatment and we are providing information to address them.
Radiotherapy
Irradiation or radiotherapy will usually be administered after surgery for breast cancer, depending on the type and size of the original tumor. Radiation therapy is a topical treatment that reduces the chance of the tumor returning. The irradiation is done at the level the breast, or in case of mastectomy, at the level of the chest wall. Sometimes an extra dose or boost must be administered on the tumor bed. If the axillary glands are affected, it may be necessary to also irradiate the armpit.
Depending on the proposed treatment schedule, the irradiation session is given either daily or every other day. Where treatment used to last up to 7 weeks, it has now been shortened to a maximum of 2 to 3 weeks. After all, studies have shown that a higher dose can be safely administered at the same time. In addition, the boost can now be done simultaneously with the rest of the irradiation (simultaneously integrated boost), so it no longer needs to be added afterwards.
Due to the improved techniques, side effects such as skin burns are greatly reduced. In less than 10% of the patients, "moist desquamation" or burning is still seen. Moreover, this is often limited to small regions, very different from the extensive burns in the past. General fatigue, redness of the skin and swelling of the chest may still occur. Scarring or fibrosis can occur many years after radiation, causing the breast to feel firmer or to shrink in volume. The skin can also become discolored. Irradiation to the heart and lungs is kept as low as possible, both by radiation techniques and by an adapted radiation position, to avoid damage to these organs.
Just like axillary surgery and chemotherapy, radiation to the armpit can cause lymphedema of the arm. Both for the prevention and treatment of lymphedema you can visit the lymph clinic, a multidisciplinary collaboration between gynecologists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, vascular surgeons, radiotherapists and physiotherapists.