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.
Phillip Blondeel, MD, PhD
Phillip Blondeel is an internationally leading expert on aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery and one of the pioneers in the so-called “perforator flap” surgery. He is Professor of Plastic Surgery and vice-chairman of the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University Hospital Gent, Belgium, as well as an attending plastic surgeon at LaClinic in Montreux, Switzerland.
A native of the United States of America, Phillip Blondeel received his medical degree from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Medical School in Leuven, Belgium. He underwent postgraduate training in plastic surgery in the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Catholic University Leuven as well as at Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany and earned his Doctor in Medical Sciences (PhD) degree at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Gent in 1998.
Prof. Blondeel is a fellow of the Collegium Chirurgicum Plasticum (Belgian Boards)and a diplomate of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. He is currently treasurer of the Royal Belgian Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. He holds membership in numerous scientific societies, among them the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the European Association of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Plastic Surgery. He is honorary member of the South-African and Canadian Society of Plastic Surgery.
A world-renowned expert in the field of aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, Prof. Blondeel is a much sought after speaker and teacher who has also authored and co-authored numerous books, book chapters, peer-reviewed articles and abstracts. He currently sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. He is international co-editor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
At the end of 2011, Prof. Blondeel led the team that performed the first face transplant in Belgium (#19 worldwide) and is the Chairman of the Vascularized Composite Tissue Allograft Program at the University Hospital Gent.
Publications by Phillip N.V. Blondeel, MD, PhD
Most recent books
“Mijn Borst”. Ph. Blondeel & Karlien Van de Sijpe (2007). Standaard Uitgeverij, Antwerpen, Belgium. (ISBN 978-90-02-22005-0) 2nd. edition
Perforator Flaps: Anatomy, Techniques and Clinical Applications. 2nd. Ed. Ph. N. Blondeel, S. Morris, P. Neligan and G. Hallock (2013). Quality Medical Publications. St.-Louis, Mi., USA. (ISBN 978-1-57626-317-4)
10 most recent scientific publications (2011-12)
Thiessen FE, Andrades P, Blondeel PN, Hamdi M, Roche N, Stillaert F, et al. Flap surgery for pressure sores: should the underlying muscle be transferred or not? Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS. 2011;64:84-90.
Doornaert, Maarten A. J.; Blondeel, Phillip N.; Stillaert, Filip B. Inclusion of Basic Adipose Tissue Engineering Research in a Lipofilling Procedure. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 127(3):80e-82e, March 2011.
Webster, Howard; Blondeel, Philip; D'Amico, Richard A.First Global Summit of National Plastic Surgery Societies: Joint Statement. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 127(4):1703-1706, April 2011.
Zeltzer, Assaf A.; Andrades, Patricio; Hamdi, Moustapha; Blondeel, Phillip N.; Van Landuyt, Koenraad.The Use of a Single Set of Internal Mammary Recipient Vessels in Bilateral Free Flap Breast Reconstruction Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 127(6):153e-154e, June 2011.
Blondeel P, Neligan P. Reply: Are Bilateral TRAM Flaps as Good as Bilateral DIEP Flaps? Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 128(2):591-592, August 2011.
Blondeel P. Discussion: perfusion-related complications are similar for DIEP and muscle-sparing free TRAM flaps harvested on medial or lateral deep inferior epigastric artery branch perforators for breast reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg.128(6):590e-2e. Dec. 2011
Waes, Carl Van; Seidenstuecker, Katrin; Mahajan, Ajay; Roche, Nathalie; Stillaert, Filip; Andree, Christoph; PN Blondeel. The Safety of the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap Procedure: A Prospective Analysis in 1036 Breast Reconstruction Patients. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 128(4S):57, October 2011.
Doornaert MA, Declercq H, Stillaert F, Depypere B, Van de Walle I, Cornelissen M, Blondeel P. Intrinsic Dynamics of the Fat Graft: In vitro interactions between the main cell actors. Plast Reconstr Surg. Jul. 2012 (DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e318267d3fb)
Roche NA, Vermeulen BT, Blondeel PN, Stillaert FB. Technical recommendations for penile replantation based on lessons learned from penile reconstruction. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2012 May;28(4):247-50.
Roche NA, Houtmeyers P, Vermeersch HF, Stillaert FB, Blondeel PN. The role of the internal mammary vessels as recipient vessels in secondary and tertiary head and neck reconstruction. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2012 Jul;65(7):885-92.
> For a complete list of publications please download pdf.