Breast cancer is a common cancer of women in Thailand, and one of the top causes of death for women around the world. Nowadays people are more concerned about breast check-up, so they can find breast cancer in the early stage and get treatment in time to completely recover.

   Young women with breast cancer needing “breast” surgery may lose confidence because of losing the breasts, in terms of appearance and being happy with their spouse.

   But these concerns should be done away with because of the medical evolution that never stops with breast reconstructive surgery with abdominal skin flap and fat (TRAM Flap). This is a breast cancer treatment that is available at the Breast Cancer Center at Nonthavej hospital. We would like breast cancer patients to improve both physically and mentally.

Dr. Chanin Apiwanich, M.D., a surgeon at Breast Cancer Center at Nonthavej hospital, explains about breast cancer treatment with various techniques, as follows:

• - Total mastectomy to ensure that no cancer cells are left in the breast.
•  - Partial mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. For this technique, the doctor will dissect the cancer away but keep the breast, with breast radiation therapy for about 5 weeks. This technique is suitable for women with larger breasts, or patients with sagging breasts.
• - Breast reconstruction is an alternative for patients with breast cancer. This technique has been used for several years, but it is not common because the patients misunderstood that this technique takes extra time for operation. Actually, the breast reconstruction takes a few hours longer than the normal surgery, and it also takes a few days of aftercare.

How is the breast reconstruction done? (Photo shows the operation with breast reconstruction with abdominal flap)

   First, doctor will carry out breast excision with preserve the breast skin, and perform breast reconstruction with abdominal back side flap. The operation can be simultaneously done with a mastectomy depends on the stage of the cancer. Some patients need to be cured from breast cancer before breast reconstruction surgery can take place.  Previously, most surgeons usually performed reconstruction surgery after the patient had completed radiotherapy or chemotherapy courses.

   But nowadays, breast reconstruction and mastectomy taking place at the same time is more common and acceptable to reduce pain for the patient in terms of twice having surgery, and also in terms of reducing costs.

(photos of patient with left breast mastectomy and breast reconstruction with abdominal flap, before creating a nipple).

   Dr. Chanin also explains, "For Thai people, some breast cancer patients may not care about their beauty and may not wish to preserve the breasts anymore, which different from other countries. The doctor will explain that breast reconstruction is similar to other surgeries, such as cesarean surgery, and for some patients with excess belly fat, we will recommend them to have the breast reconstruction using belly flap to make new breasts for beautiful appearance. The patients would be happy to be treated for breast cancer and reducing belly fat at the same time."

   Most important is having health check-ups regularly to find underlying diseases. Especially women aged above 35 years should have breast check-ups once a year, and consult a doctor right away in case of any abnormal signs, in order to be treated in time.

By Dr. Chanin Apiwanich, M.D., a surgeon of Breast Cancer Center at Nonthavej Tel. 0-2596 – 7888 ext 7906, 2326