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