46-year-old breast cancer patient undergoes minimally invasive mastectomy and reconstruction

Karan Puri, CEO, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Manjula Rao, Consultant, Breast Oncoplastic Surgery, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Indumathi, Consultant, Anaesthesiologist, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Dinesh Madhavan, President-Group Oncology and International, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, Divya Paturi, Senior Registrar, APCC seen along with nursing team.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A 46-year-old woman has successfully undergone an Endoscopic Mastectomy with Reconstruction at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), a procedure that involves cancer removal and breast reconstruction through a minimally invasive approach.

The patient was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and was advised to undergo a mastectomy. However, she wanted to explore options for breast reconstruction. 

At APCC, Manjula Rao, Consultant, Breast Oncoplastic Surgery, APCC, suggested the endoscopic mastectomy, a minimally invasive technique that preserves the nipple and areola, improving the appearance post-surgery. The procedure involves a small incision, reducing scarring, and allowing for quicker recovery with less pain. 

In a press conference on Monday, Dr. Rao said while conservation of the breast is a priority, some patients do require mastectomy. In these cases, skin and nipple-sparing mastectomies are performed, and in certain cases, reconstruction is done using implants or the patient’s own tissue, she said. The tumour size and involvement of the breast skin or nipple are key factors to consider. “The aim is to preserve the nipple, but the nipple tissue is removed and tested for cancer. If cancer is detected, the nipple is excised. The primary focus is on cancer control, followed by cosmetic outcomes. In this case, the tumour was smaller, so the approach balanced effective cancer treatment with maintaining cosmetic appearance,” she added.

Dinesh Madhavan, President of Group Oncology at Apollo Hospitals, highlighted the importance of improving awareness about advancements in breast cancer and the need for early detection.