Beautiful After Breast Cancer

Informations générales

Objective information about the complete range of breast reconstruction options for patients is often unavailable, incomplete or difficult to access. This lack of information may contribute to feelings of confusion, despair and helplessness and can impair a patient’s ability to make critical health care decisions. We would like this information to be readily available and the Foundation, through its website, aims to be a gateway for patients, the general public and medical professionals.

We want to enhance the quality of training in the field of breast cancer, including the post-treatment period. We want to encourage specialists to spend more time with patients at the initial consultation and provide essential information about the disease and reconstruction options available. Patients need to be considered partners with their health care providers, with both parties respecting one another and making decisions together. In an open, supportive environment, patients should be encouraged to share important information about additional treatments and/or therapies they are exploring and doctors should be encouraged to understand their patient’s individual needs.

Research into improved breast reconstruction techniques is poorly funded. As the challenges of reconstructive surgery differ greatly from cosmetic surgery, we would like to see greater investment into research in this area and advocate the title of ‘reconstructive surgeons’ for doctors involved, rather than plastic surgeons.
Finally, we would like to see a greater understanding amongst government, medical, allied health care professionals and insurance companies that a sense of well-being following a diagnosis of breast cancer doesn’t begin and end with curative treatments.