Breast Cancer: Cancer treatment alone is not enough. Why is breast reconstruction necessary? Know the truth which patients are ignoring

News India Live, Digital Desk: Breast cancer cases are continuously increasing in India, but the bitter truth is that here the disease is cured during the treatment, but the mental condition of the patient and his body structure are often ignored. Recent reports and data from experts have raised a serious concern. In India, due to the fear of cancer, women undergo ‘mastectomy’ (breast removal procedure), but they either do not know about ‘breast reconstruction’ (breast reconstruction) or they leave it considering it to be a wasteful expenditure. Now the time has come to change this thinking. Won the battle with cancer, but what about self-confidence? When a body part is removed during breast cancer treatment, it directly impacts the woman’s mental health and self-confidence. Many women struggle with depression, inferiority complex and ‘body image’ issues after surgery. Doctors say that the treatment of cancer is not just about removing the tumor but also about giving the patient back his old life. Breast reconstruction plays the biggest role in this, which makes the woman feel physically and mentally complete again. Why is reconstruction left behind in India? These are the main reasons: There are many social and economic reasons behind breast reconstruction not happening in India. The first reason is lack of awareness. Many women do not know that breast reshaping can be done with or after surgery. The second big reason is ‘cost’. After the huge expense of cancer treatment, people consider reconstruction as a ‘cosmetic’ or luxury procedure. Apart from this, many times the surgeons also focus only on removing the cancer and do not explain the reconstruction options to the patient in detail. Confluence of plastic surgery and oncology: now treatment is possible Medical science has now progressed so much that during the cancer surgery itself, the breast can be given a natural look through plastic surgery. For this, silicone implants or tissue from other parts of the patient’s own body (such as the stomach or back) are used. Experts believe that health insurance companies should also consider breast reconstruction as an ‘essential part of treatment’ instead of ‘cosmetic surgery’, so that even economically weaker women can avail its benefits.