Anybody from Belgium?

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Konakona
Konakona Member Posts: 173
edited December 2020 in International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer

moving to brussels soon, I need to find an oncologis

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  • Yaelle
    Yaelle Member Posts: 53
    edited November 2017

    I am ... but I suppose you found an oncologist by now :-)


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  • Mountainlover
    Mountainlover Member Posts: 89
    edited September 2020

    Bumping this in case any Belgium-based ladies were on the boards these days

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  • Konakona
    Konakona Member Posts: 173
    edited November 2020

    Hi, I am in Brussel

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  • Mountainlover
    Mountainlover Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2020

    Hi, so am I. I see your treatment ended some time ago, but maybe we can "compare notes" if you like at some point. I found the Belgian approach to breast cancer surgery/treatment a bit hard to swallow at first, but I think I've found my niche now , fingers crossed.

    Hope you're doing well in this Covid craziness! Best wishes

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  • Konakona
    Konakona Member Posts: 173
    edited November 2020

    Hi, I am 5 years from diagnosis Chemo, Herceptin, double mastectomy and ovary removal.I am taking Aromasin with a few side effects by so far I can tollerate it.

    It has been a crazy ride, a lot of complications with reconstruction surgeries but I am done, at least for now.


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  • Mountainlover
    Mountainlover Member Posts: 89
    edited November 2020

    Thanks for your reply! Did you have implant reconstruction by any chance? I am now with TE waiting for hospitals to "reopen" so as to complete reconstruction , but the approach used in my case seems to differ from what I've read in these boards and also from the usual approach in Italy. so I'd be curious to know about your experience (pre-pec / sub-pec, alloderm? Fat grafting? Before during or after exchange?).

    I'm sorry you had complications but glad to hear that it's past for you !

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  • Konakona
    Konakona Member Posts: 173
    edited November 2020

    Yes, I had reconstruction with implants, sub-pec, fat grafting after exchange on one side.

    I also tried the nipple reconstruction but it didn’t work, I’ll go for the nipple tattoo at some point.

    What are they recommending in your case


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  • Mountainlover
    Mountainlover Member Posts: 89
    edited December 2020

    I had skin and nipple sparing UMX in July, with pre-pec TE, no alloderm. The TE has tabs "sewn" on the pectoral muscle. The PS team told me there would be fat grafting first (originally planned for October/November, now... who knows) and a few months later the exchange, with more fat grafting. I had not realised there would be 2 fat grafting sessions until the 4th post-op visit, not a nice discovery as I hoped to be done soon! Plus I don't have much fat to being with. I would have preferred to go ahead with the exchange and then a few months down the line decide if fat grafting was really needed. Reading these boards and speaking with one of the PT at the hospital I understand this is not only about aesthetics but also to repair and vascularise the skin (I have thin skin). I wonder if they consider prior fat grafting necessary as they went pre-pec without alloderm? Anyway, this is all theory as I'm afraid I'll be stuck with this TE for a long time!

    When nipple reconstruction was still on the table for me the PS told me they would "pinch" (and turn?) the skin to create a nipple and then tattoo the area some time later. Did they use this method with you? They said tattoo would be done at the hospital.

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  • Konakona
    Konakona Member Posts: 173
    edited December 2020

    Yes, that’s the technique used for my nipple reconstruction but you have to know there’s a possibility of the nipple going flat after the surgery, if you search the forum for “failed nipple reconstruction “ you will see it’s not uncommon.

    One of mine went completely flat and the other one is almost flat also, actually I regret having this surgery, it was no worth it.

    The tatoo is to recreate the areola

    Fat grafting is tricky because a high percentage is reabsorbed by the body so it usually takes s few grafts to achieve the desired result.


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