Who is a breast surgeon?
Doctors who focus on breast care and breast malignancy are known as breast surgeons. They evaluate and analyze issues and concerns relevant to breasts; performing surgery if and when needed.
They perform the following surgeries as well as all other procedures to treat breast conditions:
- breast biopsy
- lumpectomy (surgical removal of malignant or benign tumor)
- mastectomy (breast removal)
- breast reconstruction
- breast cancer in both, males and females.
When should you see a breast surgeon?
You must seek consultation from a breast surgeon if any of the following signs worry you:
- A lump or a mass in your breast or underarms (armpits): Lumps can be formed in the breast, under arms, or around the collarbone due to many medical conditions including breast cancer
- If you find that any part of your breast is swollen or thickened, even without a lump formation
- Irritation, inflammation, or redness on or around your breasts
- Breast pain not related to the menstrual cycle
- Change in shape, appearance, or texture of the breast, often referred to as skin dimpling where the skin wears off like an orange peel
- Retracted nipple (a nipple that turns inwards as opposed to outward)
- Nipple discharge (that can be anything besides milk, might also include blood, occurring without squeezing the breast
What are the most common breast problems in Pakistan?
According to "Fears and barriers: problems in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Pakistan", Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia where 89% of breast cancer patients are diagnosed at a later stage and 59% at an advanced stage due to lack of awareness.
"Reporting and Awareness Campaigns Needed for Breast Cancer in Pakistani Women", suggests that one in nine women is at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.
|
Most common pathological breast abnormality
|
Male*
|
Gynecomastia
|
58.66%
|
|
Female**
|
Fibro adenoma
|
33.3%
|
|
Most common breast malignancy
|
Male*
|
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
|
82%
|
|
Female***
|
37%
|
*As per the Breast Diseases in Males - A Morphological Review of 150 Cases
**As per Frequency of Fibro adenoma in Patients Presenting with Breast Lump
***As per Breast Diseases: a histopathological analysis of 3279 Cases at a Tertiary Care Center in Pakistan
Factsheet by the International Agency for Research on Cancer – WHO suggests that out of all cancer cases (90,373) in females for the year 2020, the ratio of breast cancer stood at 28.7% (i.e. 25,928).
What kinds of breast surgeons are there?
You either consult a breast surgeon for medical reasons or cosmetic ones that is plastic surgery.
- Oncologist
You consult an oncologist for the medical concerns enlisted below:
- Lumpectomy: Breast cancer surgery where the cancerous tissues are surgically removed along the rim of normal tissues
- Mastectomy: The breast is removed as a preventive measure
- Removal of benign tumor or non-cancerous tissues and lumps
- Plastic Surgeon
An oncologist might also obtain a fellowship in plastic surgery in order to gain plastic surgery experience
- Breast Reduction: Reducing the size of the breasts
- Breast Augmentation: Enhancing the size of the breasts
- Breast Reconstruction: Surgical makeover of the breasts post breast cancer surgery
How to become a breast surgeon in Pakistan?
Given below are the requirements that must be completed in order to become a
breast surgeon in Pakistan.
- A four-year residency programme in General Surgery (Accredited by CPSP)
- Followed by a two-year fellowship programme in Breast Surgery (Accredited by CPSP)
You can always expand your horizon by adding fellowship training in plastic surgery to your profile that would put level up your status to an Oncoplastic surgeon.
What are breast surgeons called in Pakistan?
- Surgical oncologist
- Cancer surgeon
- Oncologist
- Breast doctor
- Breast cancer doctor
- بریسٹ سرجن
