“Preserving quality of life has become an increasingly important aspect of breast cancer treatment. Most women with breast cancer now receive breast-conserving treatment. In the case of a mastectomy, we offer options for breast reconstruction.
At the Netherlands Cancer Institute, we offer the option of an immediate breast reconstruction. This kind of surgery takes longer, but the women who undergo the procedure wake up with their breasts intact. This has a positive effect on the way they view themselves and their lives.
My research shows that the use of such immediate reconstructions has increased in the Netherlands over the past ten years. I also found that there are large differences between hospitals in how often the procedure is recommended, but there is nothing that explains why this variation occurs. To identify the reasons, we started a study by examining the decision-making processes around immediate reconstruction. All women should be offered the same options when possible, after all.
During my PhD track, I started a podcast to inform people about the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in a more modern way. In this podcast series I invite specialists to discuss breast cancer with a specific focus on patients. The podcast Beter Weten Borstkanker is available on Spotify.”
Eva Heeling is an ANIOS (physician not in specialist training) at Flevo Hospital in Almere. She will defend her thesis on December 17.
Research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute is financially supported by KWF Dutch Cancer Society and the AVL Foundation.