Create awareness on breast reconstruction

Increased westernisation of food habits and lack of physical exercises have led to an escalation in the number of breast and oesophageal cancers, A.Suresh Venkatachalam, Surgical Oncologist, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, said.Addressing presspersons, he said more than 90 per cent of women in Tamil Nadu who underwent mastectomy were not aware of breast reconstruction surgery.

In breast cancers where the tumor was more than 3 cm, the breast was removed. This often resulted in loss of self-confidence and the patient suffered from low self-esteem. Through breast reconstruction surgery, the cosmetic appearance could be improved and the person would regain confidence, Mr.Venkatachalam added.The procedure involved removal of skin, fat and muscle from the lower abdominal area and surgically constructing a breast on the operated area. The appearance would be like that of a normal breast but, it would not have the functions of a normal breast, he said. If the tumor was less than 3 cm, the breast could be conserved, Mr.Venkatachalam pointed out. The only way to prevent the tumor from spreading was to detect it early.

Women above 40 years of age should examine themselves for painless lump in the breast. Those who had a familial history of cancer should get a yearly mammogram done.The surgery, which could run into a couple of lakhs at private hospitals, was performed free of cost at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, he said. Since 2003, the hospital had performed 25 such surgeries.

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