8th October 2009
St Andrew’s centre leads the way in the UK for breast reconstruction
More women in Essex are being offered immediate breast reconstruction provided by the team from the St Andrew’s centre in Chelmsford than anywhere else in the country according to a new report.
The second report from the National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit highlights Essex as providing 46 per cent of women with immediate reconstruction at the time of their mastectomy (breast removal), compared to just 14 per cent nationally.
The majority of the breast reconstruction surgery that is carried out in Essex, Ipswich and East London is done by the team of plastic surgeons from the St Andrew’s centre, based at Broomfield Hospital. The team of three breast reconstruction surgeons, Mr Ramakrishnan, Mr Niranjan and Miss Shaw, either travel to the local hospital to perform the reconstruction or operate on the more complex cases at Broomfield hospital.
Mr Venkat Ramakrishnan, consultant plastic surgeon at the St Andrew’s centre, said:” At the St Andrews centre we run one of the biggest breast reconstruction services covering the whole of Essex and North East London. We perform more breast reconstructions than any other unit in the country which is highlighted in this latest report. Last year we performed over 300 reconstructions.
“The increase in uptake for immediate breast reconstruction demonstrates a real need and desire for this surgery by patients. It has proven medical and psychological benefits and we shouldn’t underplay the part reconstruction plays in a woman’s recovery from breast cancer. I am delighted that the number of women being given immediate breast reconstruction has increased, but there is still more to do to ensure that women are being given the best possible treatment.”
The majority of breast reconstructions carried out by the St Andrew’s surgeons involves using microsurgical techniques to transfer soft tissue from another part of the body in order to reconstruct a breast.
Mr Ramakrishnan adds: “We can offer ladies every type of reconstruction available, mostly using the lady’s own body tissue to rebuild the breast. When some women have a mastectomy they have an implant to rebuild the breast, but reconstruction using body tissue which is a far better option. By using the patient’s own body tissue it works much better as it behaves like a real breast and doesn’t ever have to be replaced. When the women increases or loses weight the reconstructed breast does the same. If a patient has one good operation using their own body tissue they are usually discharged by the consultant after six months whereas patients who have implants may need an operation for a new implant after five or ten years. Therefore over 20 years using body tissue for reconstruction is more resource and cost effective as well as being better for the patient.”
The reconstructions available involve using body tissue from the tummy, buttocks or the thigh. When body tissue is taken from the tummy the surgeon can perform a tummy tuck at the same time that leaves a bikini line scar and a flatter stomach for the patient. The diep flap operation using the tummy fat is considered to be the gold standard in breast reconstruction,
The report also highlights that the St Andrew’s team are able to offer more women over the ago of 70 the opportunity for immediate reconstruction than anywhere else in the country.
The St Andrew’s centre is an international and national training centre for breast reconstruction and surgeons from all over the world come there to train.
As well as providing a top class reconstruction service the St Andrew’s centre has breast reconstruction nurses who offer a service to women who are considering reconstruction following a mastectomy.
Jayne Knight, breast reconstruction nurse and her colleagues, run nurse led breast reconstruction clinics twice a week and are able to provide that personal touch for women who are considering breast reconstruction. The clinics free up the consultants to be able to see more patients which is beneficial all round.
Another service that the team offer is nipple tattooing that is carried out after the breast reconstruction surgery.
Jayne said: “I have been specially trained to carry out nipple tattooing which is really the icing on the cake for women who have had breast reconstruction as it is makes the breast look so realistic. Most of the consultants are more than happy for us to do this because it is time consuming so we also have women referred to us from GPs and other hospitals.”
In addition to her work in the clinic Jane started a special support group about five years ago, appropriately called BRA (Breast Reconstruction Awareness).
The group is for women who have undergone, or are thinking about, reconstruction and has grown over the years.
Mr Ramakrishnan adds:” We are proud that we are the leading centre for breast reconstruction in the UK today and that we offer a complete service to all women.”
ENDS
Media contact : Jo Triggs tel: (01245) 514235 | Mobile : 0790 005 4948
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