Pioneering one-stop breast ops
Husband and wife surgeons
Women diagnosed with breast cancer in the Forth Valley region are set to benefit from pioneering surgery.
The ‘one-stop operation’ has been offered by NHS Forth Valley since the arrival of husband and wife oncoplastic surgeons Chris Cartlidge and Lucy Khan in August and it means women can have reconstructive surgery alongside any surgery to remove cancer.
The couple, who have carried out around 20 of the complex or bilateral procedures so far, believe that breast preservation is important in improving the quality of life of the patient by restoring confidence in their body image.
The pair also claim they are seeing more younger people coming through the doors with a breast cancer diagnosis thanks to advances in technology helping to diagnose conditions much more quickly, with one patient being treated for the condition at just 22.
Explaining the procedure, Mr Cartlidge said: “Nowadays a whole breast can be removed through a small cut in the lower fold of the breast, which is hidden.
“This is very similar to the same type of incision for a breast enlargement.
“The most important thing is treating the cancer well but we also want women to feel confident about their body after treatment.”
The demand for the service - which involves techniques such as breast reconstruction through lipofilling and fat transfer, as well as nipple and skin-sparing mastectomies - has proved popular so far, with the couple carrying out around one procedure per week.
And an NHS Forth Valley spokeswoman confirmed to the Observer that the health board was one of “very few” in Scotland offering the service.
Mrs Khan added: “Treating breast cancer in my mind has to be done in a way where the patient can be happy and the surgery is done in the most aesthetic way possible.
“We must continue to present women with the best options possible and recognise that not one size fits all; each woman is very much an individual with treatment tailored to them specifically.”
Surgery is done in most aesthetic way possible