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.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: 9 September 2022
Welcome
This Privacy Policy sets out our practices in relation to information we collect through the website operated and managed by us (hereinafter "Site"). By submitting personal information to us or using the Site, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
Information collection
Information you provide
On some pages of the Site you may be asked to submit your personal data so that you can benefit from specific services (such as the newsletter, invitations to our events or information about our activities) or to participate in a particular activity or event.
Passive collection and use of information
As you browse our site (and any other), some personal information may be collected passively (i.e., it is collected without you actively providing the information) using various technologies and means, such as Internet Protocol addresses, cookies, Internet tags and surfing data collection.
Please read the Cookie Policy and review the Cookie Settings screen for detailed information on cookies and other tracking technologies used on our site. This policy also provides information on how to disable cookies and tracking technologies if you disagree with their use. If you do not disable cookies or other tracking technologies, your use of them will be deemed to constitute your consent.
How we use and disclose information
We use the personal data you have given us for the specific purposes indicated on the web page on which you provide it.
We also use personal data from and about you:
to respond to your enquiries and fulfil your requests through the 'contact' section of our site;
for our business purposes, such as for data analysis, to develop new services, to improve our website and services, to identify site usage trends, and to determine the effectiveness of our campaigns.
We may also transfer personal data collected through the Site
to our external partners with whom we co-host an activity or event;
to our third party service providers who provide services such as website hosting and management, mobile application hosting and data analytics to enable them to deliver services; and
to our affiliated organisations.
Except for the purposes indicated above, we may use personal data collected through the site only and exclusively with your consent or to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Third party websites and services
This Privacy Policy does not address, and we are not responsible for, the privacy, information and other practices of any third parties, including any third party that operates any site or web property (including, without limitation, any applications) available through this Site or from which this Site contains a link. The availability of, or inclusion of a link to, any such site or property on the Site does not imply a recommendation of us or our affiliates.
Security
We use reasonable organisational, technical and administrative measures to protect the personal information in our possession. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or any data storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. If you have reason to believe that your interaction with us is no longer secure (for example, if you feel that the security of any of your accounts with us has been compromised), please contact us immediately about this problem in accordance with the "Contact Us" section below.
Choices and Access
Your choices about our use and disclosure of your personal information
We offer you choices regarding our use and disclosure of your personal information for marketing purposes. You may choose to opt out of the following:
Receiving our marketing communications: If you no longer wish to receive marketing communications from us (such as newsletters or invitations to activities or events), you may opt-out of receiving them by emailing info@beautifulabc.com. In your response to us, please state your name, identify the types of marketing communications you no longer wish to receive and the address(es) to which they will be sent. For example, if you no longer wish to receive marketing emails or regular mail from us, you can indicate that and include your name and email or postal address. In addition, you may opt out of receiving marketing emails from us by following the instructions provided in such marketing message.
Sharing of your personal data with affiliates and external partners: If you wish us not to share your personal data with our affiliates for their marketing purposes and/or with external partners, please let us know by contacting us by e-mail at info@beautifulabc.com. Please mention in your reply to us that we are no longer allowed to share your personal information with our affiliates and/or external partners and provide your name and e-mail address.
We will endeavour to comply with your request(s) as soon as possible. Please note that if you unsubscribe as described above, we will not be able to remove your personal information from the databases of our affiliated organisations with whom we have already shared your personal information (i.e. prior to the date that we have processed your request to unsubscribe) but we will, of course, also communicate your request to such organisations and external partners as soon as possible.
How to access, change or delete your personal information
If you wish to review, correct, update or delete the personal information you have given us through the Site, please contact us by e-mail at info@beautifulabc.com. We will endeavour to comply with your request as soon as possible.
Retention period
We will retain your personal information for as long as is necessary for the purposes summarised in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law or otherwise to comply with a legal obligation.
Cross-border transfer
Your personal information may be stored and processed in any country where we have affiliated organisations or external partners. By using our site or by giving us consent (where required by law), you consent to the transfer of information to countries other than your country of residence, including the United States, which may have different data protection laws from your country of residence.
Sensitive information
Except where we specifically request or ask it, we do not ask you to send us or disclose sensitive personal information (e.g. information relating to race or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion or other beliefs, health, criminal background or trade union membership) on or through the Site or otherwise. Where we ask you to provide us with sensitive information, we do so with your explicit consent.
Updates to this Privacy Policy
We may change this Privacy Policy. Please check the "LAST UPDATED" legend at the top of this page to see when this policy was last updated. Changes to this Privacy Policy will take effect when we post the revised Privacy Policy on the Site. Your use of the Site after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
Contacting Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us.
Via e-mail:info@beautifulabc.com
By letter:Beautiful After Breast Cancer Foundation, De Gerlachekaai 20, 2000 Antwerp
Cookies
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