Those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have to undergo complete breast removal, can now heave a sigh of relief, that would no longer have to live with a negative body image over the loss of "femininity" and "appearance", as breast reconstruction has now become easier, smoother, quicker and more technologically advanced thanks to the latest introduction of a robotic nipple sparing mastectomy with TiLoop Assisted Breast Reconstruction.
"Breast cancer in India makes up 30 per cent of all cancers in women and most of them whose canse necessitates the complete removal of breast always hesitate to undergo breast reconstruction. For this reason, this technology is a significant gamechanger in the field of breast surgery," said Dr Sandeep Bipte, consultant breast surgeon at Apollo Hospital in Navi Mumbai. "In India, the number of breast cancer cases are rising and more younger women are now being diagnosed with it. I see women between the ages of 20 and 50 come with Stage 3 breast cancer and eventually they land up with mastectomy. This technology will convince them to come forward for reconstruction."
Although the incidence of breast cancer is on the rise, it is a treatable cancer because when detected early it can lead to fantastic outcomes, say doctors. As of now, oncoplastic surgery is conducted for cosmetic breast reconstruction, where fat is taken from other body parts, but the recoveries in this method are longer, say doctors. This method involves a 3D camera enabling the doctors to view clearly into the organ, and it makes a "very small scar of 3 to 4 cms" in comparison to mastectomy leading to a scar measuring upto 20 cms, "and that too the scar is not on the breast, as against traditional mastectomy". With this robotic precision, patients are able to go home the next day and undergo faster recovery, explain doctors. "The advantages are that scarring is minimal, recovery is faster, surgery is precise and there is minimal blood loss and the outcome is infection free as of now," Dr Thumsi told THE WEEK.
So, what exactly is the TiLoop? This is a coated polypropylene mesh which is used to cover the silicon implant; titanium and polypropylene mesh both are used traditionally in our bodies. For example, polypropylene mesh is used for hernia surgeries and other soft tissue repairs and titanium is used for skull surgeries.
Robotic surgeon Dr Jayanti Thumsi told THE WEEK at a recently held press conference in the city: “Having a titanium coated polypropylene mesh is scientifically proven and there are a number of clinical trials and it has been used in Europe and US extensively since more than a decade. It is only now, for the first time that we got it in India.
“The best part about this product is that it is very inert and becomes a part of the body easily and there is less inflammation and thereby less seroma which traditionally we see post breast surgeries and the healing is very fast. There is no foreign body sensation and since it is in the form of a mesh, you can crush it, it takes the shape of the implant. So there is no irregularity of the surface after the reconstruction is done. and hence, aesthetically also, it is very appealing."
This mesh is, at present, being used by doctors at Apollo Cancer Centres and will soon be embraced by doctors from other hospitals, sources told THE WEEK. "The technology can be embraced by any organisation and any clinician because the intent here is that by introducing something we get India to have access to it. Doctors from Apollo will be more than happy to collaborate with other doctors from other hospitals," said Dinesh Madhavan, president, group oncology, Apollo Hospital.
So, would this procedure become mainstream now? Will all patients who undergo complete breast removal be able to make the most of this tech? "Yes. In every such breast cancer case that necessitates and fits the requirements, we will use this method of breast reconstruction,” said Dr Thumsi.
“For instance, 20 to 30 per cent of cases diagnosed with breast cancer need to undergo complete removal of breasts. There are a significant number of them where only the lump is removed and not the entire breast. So this technology is useful only when a complete breast has to be removed.”
This is already happening in the west and is now being welcomed by breast-onco surgeons in India, too.
