Beautiful After Breast Cancer Foundation

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.

Search results ""

Concert Prima La Musica Aftermovie

Beautiful After Breast Cancer provided tickets to this fantastic concert and organized an exclusive...

Engaging music for a warm causePrima La Musica, the chamber orchestra conducted by composer-conducto...

Read more

Board Members

President of the BoardPhillip Blondeel Board membersChristine Van VelthovenRossella SgarzaniVir...

Read more

BRCA1, BRCA2, Breast and ovarian cancer

To understand the genetics of breast cancer, we first need to explain some basic principles. Our gen...

Female carriers of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation have a significant risk of developing breast and ovar...

Read more

Karine Tollenaere

Karine is a member of the Executive Board since September 2019 and is mainly involved in organising...

Karine Tollenaere was born in 1967. After her studies at the University of Ghent (Classical Philolog...

Read more

BK You.Fo 2025 supports Beautiful After Breast Cancer

On April 21, 2025, the first Open Belgian Championship You.Fo will take place at the beautiful 't Za...

What is YOU.FO?You.Fo is a dynamic sport that combines elements of lacrosse and frisbee. Two teams c...

Read more

Skin troubles and skin care during chemotherapy

The skin is the largest organ in our bodies, which acts like a barrier that protects us from noxious...

The importance of this is that during chemotherapy treatment, most drugs block the activity or the a...

Read more

Event in-kind donations

Donate goods or servicesTo lead an event to a great success, goods and services are needed of differ...

Read more

Johan Vandeweghe (In Memoriam)

Born in Gent, Johan graduated in Civil Engineering Techniques and Project Management. He was a co-fo...

He started his career as an industrial surveyor and later worked as a project manager for 'BNS Engin...

Read more

The importance of self-examination and screening

October is international action month in the fight against breast cancer. According to recent figure...

We would therefore recommend that everyone, of any age, check their breasts very regularly, preferab...

Read more