“I first came into contact with the Netherlands Cancer Institute in my final year of high school, while writing my senior research project. I never imagined I would end up do my PhD research there. I investigated whether it’s a good idea to perform an immediate breast reconstruction during the mastectomy, especially when we already know that the patient will need radiation therapy afterwards.
Plastic surgeons used to postpone the reconstructive surgery, as they believed that radiation would negatively impact the outcome. My research shows that this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. We’re seeing mostly positive results, especially in the short term. Most important is that these women experience a significantly better quality of life. And I definitely understand: waking up with only one breast in such a difficult time must be incredibly tough. That’s how a plastic surgeon can truly make a difference.
Whether it’s in a hospital in Nepal, where I worked in the plastic surgery department as a student, or here at the Red Cross Hospital in Beverwijk, where I now work, I’m reminded of it every time.”
Merel Kooijman will defend her thesis on June 4.
prof. dr. C.C. Breugem
dr. J.J. Hage