Oncoplastic Surgery for Breast Cancer

Oncoplastic Surgery for Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in
women. Research shows that approximately 1 in every 8 women will be diagnosed
with breast cancer in their lifetime. In the older era, mastectomy was the only
surgical procedure offered to such women. However, robust clinical trials
spanning over many countries and decades have conclusively shown that breast
conservation surgery (BCS) is the treatment of choice in women with early stage
breast cancers. Going a step further, the recent developments in the field of
oncoplasty have enabled surgeons to extend the boundaries of breast
conservation surgery.

Oncoplasty combines the principles of breast cancer
surgery with the fundamentals of cosmetic plastic surgery. Together, it allows
a surgeon to deliver oncologically safe breast conservation surgery with
improved cosmetic outcomes.

The two main kind of procedures involved in oncoplasty
are volume displacement and volume replacement techniques.

Volume
displacement technique: It is used for relatively smaller tissue
excisions, and is performed by refashioning the existing breast tissue to
create and maintain the symmetry & contour of the breast.

Volume
replacement technique: These are more advanced surgical
techniques where tissue obtained from other parts of the body are used to
replace the defect in the breast, to create and maintain contour &
symmetry.

Oncoplastic surgery is a truly advanced technique that has allowed many women across the world to preserve their breasts during the course of cancer treatment. It is oncologically safe and results in excellent clinical and cosmetic outcomes, while delivering optimum cancer care.

Inputs by Dr. Nisha Hariharan, Consultant, Breast Oncoplasty Surgery, at Apollo Cancer Centres, Navi Mumbai