Surviving breast cancer with confidence

A snippet I read in a SingHealth newsletter showed just how far Singapore has progressed beyond basic medical care. The article highlighted how SKH Breast and Plastic Surgery Service was preserving the dignity of breast cancer survivors through close-to-ideal breast restoration via minimally invasive surgery, also known as endoscopic surgery.

Since 2019, SKH has performed more than 50 successful nipple-sparing removal mastectomies, more than half of which were done alongside immediate breast reconstruction using tissue from the abdomen. This surgery is now available at select SingHealth-Duke NUS Breast Centres. It is a much-needed service as breast cancer is the most common malignancy among Singapore women, accounting for about 30 per cent of all female cancers, according to a 2022 journal paper.

The procedure makes it possible for women to fully preserve the aesthetics and function of their breasts. This is achieved with reduced operative scarring and wound complications through discreet breast removals as a standard first-line treatment, resulting in less conspicuous, smaller incisions and fewer scars.

What’s more, endoscopic breast-conserving surgery enables SKH to use a woman’s own body skin, fat and blood vessels to recreate her breasts as naturally and safely as possible, resulting in a lifelong restorative solution as opposed to conventional implant alternatives.

Now, women in Singapore can survive breast cancer with their confidence intact.