Immediate breast reconstruction, first choice for women undergoing a mastectomy

-Sanitas Hospital offers the latest oncoplásticas techniques that combine the removal of the tumor and the plastic refurbishment of the rest of the breast.

-The specialist breast units of Sanitas hospitals have multidisciplinary teams that allow a better early detection of cancer of the breast and diagnostic process.

-Currently 22,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually in Spain.

Madrid, may 2012.- About 90% of women who have had a mastectomy, or removal of the diseased breast, may be candidates appropriate to a breast reconstruction. However, only about 20% are subjected to this surgery. In this context, the protocols followed in the Sanitas hospital breast units, seek, one greater number of patients accessing this breakthrough in the treatment of breast cancer, mainly on the question of avoiding one of the sequels more feared by the women involved as it is the loss of a breast.

In the words of the DRA. Margarita Feijoo, Chief of the service of Oncology of the Hospital Sanitas La Moraleja, the volume of women in which the surgery is conservative, where is removed the tumor but conserves the breast, it is currently very high and fortunately growing, reaching 50%. In the event that the mastectomy is necessary, recent advances have made almost 90 per cent of women are candidates for reconstruction. Despite this, the reality is that only about 20% are subjected to this surgery, which is why we are working to make it an option for many more women ”

unit of Council and oncology care (UCCO) offers the latest technical oncoplásticas comprising the oncologic principles with the aesthetic and Reconstructive principles of the breast. They range from the conservative surgery of the breast and armpit to the reconstruction of breast postmastectomía, or after the removal of the breast ill, with the most appropriate technique in each case.

The breast reconstruction post mastectomy basically uses two types of surgical techniques: the reconstruction using prosthesis or breast expanders and reconstruction through the patient’s own tissue. The intervention may be done at the same time removes the breast as part of the treatment, which is known as immediate reconstruction, or different surgery, called delayed reconstruction.

Reconstruction must be offered to all patient require a mastectomy and not present contraindications for the profits on the self-esteem and the quality of life of the patient. In recent years it has gained importance the immediate breast reconstruction and is our first option wherever possible, that prevents the patient the consequences psychological loss, albeit temporary, a chest ” adds Dr. Abbot, head of Oncology at the Catalunya Sanitas Campus service.

Along with the removal of the tumour and the plastic refurbishment of the rest of the breast oncoplastic surgery offers the possibility of the remodelling of the healthy breast, to maintain symmetry in both breasts.

Importance of early diagnosis

Other angular parts in breast cancer is the diagnostic process. One of the strengths of the Sanitas hospital breast units is the methodology of work focused on two basic aspects: the test of screening for the early detection of breast cancer and the diagnostic process. This methodology ensures minimum time in diagnosis and maximum efficiency in the same ”, explains the DRA. Margarita Feijoo.

Sanitas hospital also offers the use of test Mammaprint, study that measures the activity of 70 genes, providing information on the probability of recidivism, risk of metastasis in the short term and aggressiveness of the tumor.

In the area of prevention, a key element in Sanitas hospitals are the genetic analysis of the unity of family cancer that help the study of hereditary component and the levels of risk for this type of cancer in the same family ”, says Dr. Pedro Salinas, head of the Oncology of the Hospital Sanitas La Zarzuela.

More 450 patients treated in 2011

The Sanitas hospital breast units attended in 2011, more than 450 patients, of which 120 underwent surgery and close to 200 to chemotherapy treatment. They were integrated into the unit for care and Oncology Council (UCCO) which has facilities in Madrid in the Hospital Sanitas La Moraleja, the Hospital Sanitas La Zarzuela and the Millennium Centre doctor Núñez de Balboa; in Barcelona, in the CIMA Hospital and in Millenium Centre doctor Iradier.

Since its launch in 2009 work by offering a customized, multidisciplinary and comprehensive treatment of breast cancer, disease that some 22,000 cases diagnosed per year in our country, representing almost 30% of all cancers in women, according to data from the Spanish Association against cancer.