Specialists Demand Breast Reconstructions After Mastectomies

Only 30% of women who have a mastectomy have their breasts reconstructed. The medical community calls for a new protocol for this type of intervention.

Simply hearing that you have “Cancer” comes to mind a bombardment of ideas, pessimistic thoughts, and life changes. Unfortunately, this disease claims more and more victims, but some of them manage to overcome this condition considered one of the most aggressive, on the other hand, some, unfortunately, cannot overcome it.

The fact that the woman suffers from breast cancer does not mean that her world is closed and her illusions end; Fortunately, great advances, and innovations have occurred in the treatment of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common tumor in the Western world and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Spain, 25,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year and more than half of the patients must have one or both breasts removed. However, the biggest problem comes at the time of reconstruction, a poorly standardized intervention in our country, to which only 16,000 of the cases are subjected, of which 2,000 do so immediately in the same operation.

Breast reconstruction is performed not only to satisfy the aesthetics of the woman but also to improve her emotional health

The doctor, argues that ” where there is a mastectomy, there must be a surgeon .” In this way, the standardization of reconstruction in each mastectomy would be solved as an automatic and less traumatic process for those affected. “As part of a whole, not as an extra luxury for the patient,” concludes Dr. Laredo.

Although, it is very much in mind that women survivors of cancer, what they most want after having faced this disease, is to erase all traces that say they have suffered from cancer; Now what they want is not only to feel good but to look good and that is why they seek to be able to access a breast reconstruction, however, in our country this procedure is not very demanding, because the specialty is considered a luxury.

The lack of professionals in the sector in Public Hospitals is another reason why breast reconstruction is not an automatic and immediate intervention after mastectomy. For this reason, César Casado, Secretary-General of the SECURE, has called for comprehensive treatment for all patients as part of a standard that should have been implemented years ago in our country. Government authorities, for their part, argue that breast reconstruction is a “specialty as a luxury specialty, and not as a specialty of patient care,” according to Casado. This makes it difficult for Public Hospitals to have specialized personnel as it is considered an additional intervention, despite the serious psychological consequences that it can imply for patients. reconstruction and total healing.

Knowing this opinion and even more so that it is supported by a specialist in plastic surgery and others, such as Cristiano Suárez, is a magnificent possibility for women who have had one or both breasts removed to treat cancer. If this specialty were more accessible to those patients who want a reconstruction, they would save a worry, since they would no longer be waiting to be able to perform a breast reconstruction.

Breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction can be performed with different techniques, one is through the placement of implants and another can be done through autogenous tissue, which is taken from other body parts of the patient. However, both autogenous tissue and implants can be applied together to improve results.

Before accessing this practice, the specialist in aesthetic plastic surgery and reconstruction evaluates the patient’s health conditions. Also, breast reconstruction can begin immediately after being removed from the breast or both breasts. Otherwise, when you do not have this type of specialty, as it is in our country, do not worry, it can also be done after a few months and even years have passed. What matters most with this type of surgery is the capacity, experience, and professionalism with which the surgeon works; no matter what technique or procedure is chosen it can reconstruct the breasts and restore the safety, self-esteem, and quality of life of the patients.

The cost is the same

According to specialists, the problem does not lie in a lack of funds or cuts, but rather a question of a change in mentality. Javier de la Fuente, the plastic surgeon at the Virgen de la Salud Hospital in Toledo, explains “the price is the same because the salary charged by a traumatologist is the same as a plastic surgeon. “

Without hesitation, breast reconstruction surgery should be considered as something fundamental, it must be added to the entire process that breast cancer implies, since, as we have seen, it is not only seeking to improve people’s aesthetics.

First of all, prevention is the key to avoiding breast cancer. The self- examination helps avoid having to go through a procedure, which sometimes becomes tiring and exhausting not only for the woman with cancer but for her entire family. If you notice any change in one of your breasts, or both, go to the doctor, sometimes going on time can save our lives.