Support for breast reconstruction patients and loved ones
Updated: Oct 3
Support for breast reconstruction patients and loved ones
Support during breast reconstruction can include information, practical help and emotional support. Ask your own care team which services are available for you and your loved ones. This website offers free educational information by Dr. Mahyar Foumani, based on his book Breast Reconstruction Explained.
Free information for patients and loved ones
Breastreconstructionsurgeon.com offers free articles, illustrations and videos about breast reconstruction. You can use them to prepare questions for your own care team.
Patient organisations and practical support
Examples of patient organisations include Breast Cancer Now (UK), Breastcancer.org and Living Beyond Breast Cancer (US), BVN (Borstkankervereniging Nederland), Frauenselbsthilfe Krebs (Germany), and AECC (Spain). Their websites provide information about available services. Ask your care team which resources fit your needs and country. BRECONDA is a breast reconstruction decision aid.
Emotional support in hospital
Most European breast cancer centres have built-in emotional and psychological support (psycho-oncology), breast care nurses, and social workers. These professionals can arrange one-to-one contact with other patients who have had the same reconstruction technique. Ask your breast care nurse directly whether a buddy or peer-support system exists at your hospital — it often does, even when it is not advertised. The book Breast Reconstruction Explained is often used alongside these hospital services, as a shared reference between patients and their care team.
Preparing for a conversation
Start with the information that matches your questions. You can use the articles, videos and decision guide to prepare for a conversation with your own care team. Ask your team about practical and emotional support for you and your loved ones.
Frequently asked questions
What does this website offer?
Free educational articles, illustrations and videos about breast reconstruction. Use them to prepare questions for your own care team.
Where can I find patient information and support?
Ask your care team about support services for you and your loved ones. National patient organisations also provide information about available services.
How can I check information I find online?
Check what you read against specialist sources, such as Breast Reconstruction Explained or the articles by Dr. Mahyar Foumani, and discuss anything unclear with your breast care team.
Is peer support available in hospitals?
Yes. Most European breast centres have breast care nurses, psycho-oncology services, and buddy or peer-support programmes — ask your team.
Is the educational information available in several languages?
Breastreconstructionsurgeon.com provides information in English, Dutch, German, Spanish, Arabic and Persian. For support services in your language, ask your care team or a patient organisation in your country.
About the author: Dr. Mahyar Foumani is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and the author of Breast Reconstruction Explained (ISBN 978-9083545189). He founded breastreconstructionsurgeon.com as a free, multilingual educational website for breast reconstruction patients and clinicians.
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Written by Dr. Mahyar Foumani, plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction. Based on the book 'Breast Reconstruction Explained.'
This article is education, not medical advice
This article explains in plain words how breast reconstruction works. It is meant to help you understand what is possible, so that you and your doctor can make a good decision together. It does not replace personal medical advice.
Every situation is different. What is best for you depends on your body, your illness, your treatment and your own wishes. So always follow the advice of your own doctor or care team. Do you have symptoms, or are you unsure about something? Please contact your doctor or GP. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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