Doctors successfully treat 42-year-old woman with 1.6kgs weighing tumour using breast reconstruction surgery

In treating one of the most complex and rare cases, Doctors at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram provided a new lease of life to a 42-year-old female patient battling with breast cancer. The specialists conducted a mastectomy surgery with a flap cover for removing the 22 x 18 cm dimensions and 1.6kgs weighing malignant phyllodes tumour present inside the patient’s right breast and successfully reconstructed it.

The patient had earlier undergone a surgery for a breast lump in the right breast, almost a year ago at a private hospital but the lump re-appeared at the same position within a span of 6 months, necessitating her to gain further consultation.

The challenging case was taken up by a team of experts headed by Dr. Rohan Khandelwal- Breast Cancer Surgeon, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, who on examination found the lump to be lobulated and stuck to the skin at various points. Through various diagnostic tests including biopsies, specialists reached a clinical diagnosis of malignant phyllodes tumour.

Phyllodes tumours are rare breast tumours that originate in the connective (stromal) tissue of the breast rather than the ducts or glands which is where most breast cancers originate. While Phyllodes tumours are mostly not dangerous, a small percentage is malignant (cancer).

Briefing about the case and the rise in Phyllodes tumours, Dr. Rohan Khandelwal said, “Every passing year reports a rise in breast cancer cases throughout the country and along with it, the prevalence of uncommon tumours. A phyllodes tumour is one such tumour, which is known for its tendency to rapidly grow and reoccur. These types of tumours can rapidly increase to large sizes but in this particular case a 1.6kgs weighing malignant phyllodes tumour is one of the largest reported till now. After thorough examination, our team conducted a mastectomy surgery in order to treat the cancer by removing all the breast tissue present inside the right breast of the patient along with which a breast reconstruction surgery was also successfully conducted for rebuilding the shape of the breast. After surgery, the patient received radiotherapy and has been asymptotic ever since. Majority of the phyllodes tumors don’t require chemotherapy as they don’t infiltrate the lymphatic system, even if they are malignant.”

As per the recent reports by Globocan 2020, breast cancer has turned out to be the most prevalent cancer across the country with over 1,78,361 new cases reported as well as 90,408 deaths. The rapid rise in cases being due to rapid rise in abnormal breast cells in patients.

“Breast cancer apart from being hereditary, has several other risk factors like sedentary lifestyle including bingeing on alcohol, smoking, increasing obesity among youngsters, stress and poor dietary intake, all of these factors combined are the cause of increase in the incidences of breast cancer especially among the younger generations under the age of 40, making early diagnosis. For better understanding of the cancer and assessing the conditions, biopsy procedures like Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and Tru-cut Needle Biopsy are the latest day-care procedures which are tolerable in pain and require less than 15 minutes to complete. These recent advancements in treatment modules have led to better results for the patients.” Added Dr. Rohan Khandelwal