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.
Familial and hereditary types of breast cancer
Women with a significant risk of breast cancer frequently have multiple first degree relatives affected by the disease at an early age or have one or more relatives with multifocal or bilateral breast cancer. These women also often have a family history of ovarian cancer and male relatives affected by breast cancer. In these families, the genetic predisposition is the result of inheriting a specific genetic abnormality, involving a mutation of the BRCA1, BRCA2 or BRCA3 gene.Such families usually fulfill the criteria for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (see Table).
Tabel: Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome and familial breast cancer. | |
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| breast cancer in at least two first or second degree relatives at an early age, without fulfilling the criteria for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. |
In families where the risk of breast cancer is moderately or just slightly increased, the relationship between affected family members is more distant and the age of diagnosis later. These are examples of familial breast cancers (Table).
In a minority of these families, genetic abnormalities in the BRCA1, BRCA2 or BRCA3 genes are identified but other genetic ‘variations’ may also play a role. These variations have a weaker influence on the risk of developing breast cancer but are probably occur more frequently than the BRCA1, 2 or 3 mutations and may have a greater impact on the general population. There is also the real possibility that the effect of these variants is influenced by non-genetic factors.
Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to perform a molecular analysis for these genome mutations. The risk for unaffected family members has to be calculated based on information obtained by analyzing the family tree.
It may in fact be difficult to distinguish between hereditary and familial forms of breast cancer. The contribution of genetic mutations is best regarded as a continuum: in familial breast cancer genetic abnormalities play a minor role in the risk of breast cancer, whereas in hereditary forms, BRCA1, BRCA2 and BRCA3 mutations have a significant impact. Many families, however, find themselves caught at the boundary between these two entities.
Figure: A Family history of breast cancer helps divide patients into three overlapping categories: sporadic, familial and hereditary. An early age of diagnosis and a large number of affected family members increases the likelihood of the hereditary form. Genetic abnormalities (mutations in the BRCA1, BRCA2 and BRCA3 genes) are most frequently demonstrated in the hereditary form. These genetic defects cause an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer in female carriers. In familial breast cancer, genetic mutations have less influence on risk.