Free flap method aids cancer-hit women

Visakhapatnam: HCG Pinnacle Cancer centre has successfully operated a 34-year-old breast cancer patient using the free-flap procedure for the first time in the city, the hospital’s Surgical Oncology consultant said Dr N. Raghu Vamsi on Thursday. In this procedure, the surgeon disconnects the cancer-affected tissue entirely from its blood supply and then reattaching tissues to new blood vessels near the chest and redesigning, contouring the flap.

“As the re-attaching of blood vessels takes place, free-flap surgery generally takes longer than any other routine flap surgery. Free flaps are intricate and time taking. They need a dedicated team to be executed,” Vamsi said. The patient Moushami Nag said, “The thought of losing my breast to cancer was dreadful and disturbing at a young age. The doctors came up with the suggestion of reconstruction surgery post the  removal procedure.

“I agreed to undergo the breast reconstruction surgery fearing deprivation of the breast, which is synonymous with femininity. I am grateful to the doctors who suggested this,” she added. The Cancer centre offers cancer care with a multi-disciplinary approach through specialist doctors in surgical and radiation oncology. The radiation department is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies.

Another facility at this centre is the 16 slice PET CT machine discovery IQ from GE which enables effective cancer diagnostics. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Rapid Arc are also equipped here to manage even the most complex cancers.