“We call it the destination and this destination is the woman’s wellbeing after being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.”
These are the words of Mr Colin Morrison, consultant plastic surgeon at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin.
Mr Morrison is involved with the Beautiful ABC Foundation, ABC stands for “after breast cancer”, a global organisation committed to reconstructing a patient with breast cancer’s life.
“We’re raising awareness of breast reconstruction,” Mr Morrison told Her.ie, “The uptake for this post-treatment option is globally low and isn’t identified in many countries either. The USA is the only country legally obliged to discuss the procedure with patients.
“A lot of women in Ireland are not aware of the option and it is especially difficult to get information on the different types of breast reconstruction when you don’t live close to the main cancer treatment centres.”
Research shows that while 83 per cent of women are “satisfied” with their bodies and 75 per cent of women say they are “confident in a social setting” post-reconstructive surgery, the amount of women in the UK and Ireland opting for the procedure remains quite low.
Angelina Jolie recently spoke out about her double mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
The 2011 National Mastectomy Breast Cancer Audit, which compiled data from more than 18,000 women treated at 270 UK hospitals, also revealed that only 21 per cent of women in the UK are going for breast reconstruction post-treatment.
Mr Morrison said there is no specific data for Ireland but they can confidently say the figures are even lower here.
“I suppose historically, the focus was always on treatment of the cancer. Medically, people would have been happy if we got rid of the cancer and the patient survived,” Morrison recently told the Irish Times.
“Now we are asking, are these women happy after their treatment for breast cancer, have they returned to all their normal activities, do they feel comfortable at work and at home?
“It’s about empowering patients to make the correct decision for them.”
Mr Morrison said it’s important to be aware of the many reconstruction options for women available, everything from the type of implant used, to the size and shape of the breast to when you would prefer to undergo the reconstruction, be it during mastectomy or a few months after.
It is also important to know that reconstruction does not interfere with your cancer treatment and does not increase the chances of it coming back.
Beautiful ABC are hosting a fantastic fundraising concert next month on June 18th. Mr Colin Morrison and colleague Roisin Dolan, Registrar in Plastic Surgery at St Vincent’s University Hospital from the organisation are helping to host the evening.
Two master musicians, a breast cancer patient and a plastic surgeon, will showcase their musical piece which represents their experiences during and after the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
To find out more about the event click here.
