Breast cancer and reconstruction - Part 1

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Breast cancer requires surgery, and this is where breast reconstruction comes in. Breast reconstruction can build back your breast or breasts after mastectomy. This can be done during or after the mastectomy procedure, but most women aren’t aware of this or do not have access to experienced professionals in the procedure.

Here are some common questions people have on breast cancer and breast reconstruction that our plastic surgery specialists answer for you.

1.      Why is it important to diagnose breast cancer early?

When cancer is detected early, the treatment can be done early, resulting in the patient with a better quality of life and survival outcomes. Screening mammograms are used to detect the cancers early, thus making the outcome better than when it is found at the last stages. Therefore, you must regularly screen for cancers. If you feel any lumps or symptoms, try searching “Oncologist near me” to get help immediately.

Other than this, when breast cancer is detected early, the tumour can be removed with breast-conserving surgery while preserving the rest of the breast. This procedure is usually followed with radiation therapy to treat the breast entirely locally.

Also Read: Life during and after Breast Cancer Treatment

2.      What are the options available in breast reconstruction during early breast cancer surgery?

In breast-conserving surgery, the tumour and some normal tissues around it are removed. After this, there is an option of refilling this cavity with our body tissues.

Oncoplastic breast surgery is a form of breast-conserving surgery that combines plastic surgery techniques and breast cancer surgery. This gives the patient a better aesthetic outcome and quality of life after the surgery without compromising the local control of cancer. There are two types in this called volume displacement techniques and volume replacement techniques.

To know more about breast cancer and reconstruction, watch our video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=266845055140999&ref=watch_permalink

Kauvery Hospital

Detecting breast cancers early can lead to the person getting faster treatment and returning to their normal lifestyle sooner. Breast cancers can be treated thoroughly, and breast reconstruction can ensure better aesthetic outcomes. Kauvery Hospital has some of the best cancer specialists in Chennai and experienced plastic surgeons who can carry out these procedures.

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Dialysis – A Lifesaver for Mr. Narayana Swamy

Mr. Narayanaswamy is a farmer from Thenampillaiyur, and when he started experiencing inflammation of legs and hands along with difficulty in breathing he visited some hospitals in Pondicherry and Salem. Without much results his wife opted to take him to Kauvery Hospital, Salem.

What is dialysis?

Diseased or failed kidneys might have problems with eliminating waste and excess water from the blood. The process of dialysis uses a machine to take over your kidney functions to keep the balance in the body.

With the consultation of Dr. Abirami, Mr. Narayanaswamy underwent dialysis. Since then, he has been undertaking dialysis for over 15 years. Now he has been able to go on with his daily duties without experiencing previous problems like difficulty in breathing and such.

Along with dialysis, Mr. Narayanaswamy was also given medications and diet changes which helped with the natural increase of blood in his body.

Also Read: What is Kidney Failure? Is it treatable?

Kauvery Hospital

There is a lot of panic and stigma surrounding dialysis, but in the advanced world that we live, this is a simple procedure. People with kidney problems do not have to cope with these difficulties since dialysis can help give them back their normal life. You can visit Kauvery Hospital or use the nephrologist near me option to visit the nearest specialist and get expert opinion about your condition.

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Anxiety and Gastric Issues

Being in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the anxiety levels of individuals have increased a great deal. Along with the mental pressure, anxiety brings along with it many gastro problems. These problems are now collectively termed as “brain-gut axis” disorders.

These anxiety-related gastro problems are quite common than you may think. That rumble you hear in your stomach before an interview or the abdominal discomfort before undertaking an exam are some of the gastric symptoms related with the sense of anxiousness.

Symptoms

Some of the common symptoms include:

•          Difficulty in swallowing
•          Abdominal bloating after food intake
•          Upper abdominal burning
•          Discomfort/pain
•          Constipation
•         Diarrhea
•         Region pain

These symptoms arise due to the neurochemicals released during the anxious or stressed state and not due to any diseases in the digestive system. Thus when the stress factors leading to anxiety are identified and presented to the patient and when they process or avoid them mentally, the symptoms slowly go away.

Good lifestyle modifications

To keep your mind stress-free and avoid further symptoms, here are some lifestyle changes to make:

•          Proper timing of meals
•          Good hydration and sleep
•          Sunlight exposure
•          Good hygiene
•          Regular physical activity

There are some red flag signs/symptoms like severe abdominal pain, blood loss in vomit or stools, unexplained weight loss, fever, etc., that should be ruled out before choosing to label that the patient is experiencing anxiety-induced functional gastro disorder.

Also Read: How to maintain a healthy digestive system – Infographic

Other than this, some cases might require the help of a gastrophysician and an occasional referral to a psychologist/psychiatrist. Lending a sympathetic ear to the patient’s concerns and some kind words can help a great deal in soothing the condition when compared to supportive medicine.

Kauvery Hospital

People can experience gastro problems due to stress and anxiety, and this can worsen sometimes even making the patient sick to the stomach. If you experience any of the above symptoms and they do not seem to get better with time, visit a doctor. You can use the gastroenterologist near me option or visit Kauvery Hospitals, and we assure you to provide the best care.

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Dignity in Old Age

Arthritis is one of the most common yet misunderstood diseases. There are different types of arthritis, and it can be taken as a common term that refers to joint pain or joint diseases. It can affect people of all age groups but is more prevalent in elderly people.

Arthritis in elderly people

While arthritis starts with swelling, pain, and decreased range of motions, it worsens with time. Many older people develop severe arthritis, which inflicts chronic pain and also makes it difficult for the patient to carry on with even the simple daily activities like walking or climbing stairs.

Arthritis in older people not only causes physical pain but also can affect their mental health. Because of their inability to do simple daily tasks, they feel like they are losing their independence and dignity. But with the right knee treatment, we can assure that we can set it right it and restore the purpose in their lives.

Vijayalakshmi’s story – How the 78-old-Carnatic music lover got back her life?

Vijayalakshmi came to Kauvery hospital with severe knee pain that she had been enduring for more than 25 years. She had been a single mother for about 12 years and learned to manage it all on her own while raising her children. She had an ardent love for Carnatic music and had also been managing a sabha. When her knee condition got worse, and even many orthopaedic surgeons suggested against the surgery because of her heart condition she had started losing hope.

Among 20 patients with knee pain, usually only 1 needs surgery, and others can be managed with medications and physiotherapy. In Vijayalakshmi’s case total knee replacement surgery was the best option since it could improve her life drastically. Thus our orthopedic surgeons decided to overcome all odds to give Vijayalakshmi back the life she deserved. Now Vijayalakshmi is able to perform her daily duties, and she also now manages the sabha!!

Also Read: Knee Pain: Causes and Treatment

Kauvery hospital

Kauvery hospital specializes in minimally invasive surgery, which causes less tissue damage and faster recovery. While knee pain is common in old age since it is a natural part of aging that does not mean that you will have to endure through the pain since with the right kind of intervention, the patient can lead a pain-free life. If you notice symptoms of knee pain, visit a specialist using the orthopedic doctor near me option and get it treated immediately.

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Can a cancer patient take Covid vaccination?

Covid vaccination has been constantly recommended as a precaution against contracting Covid-19 and preventing the mass spreading of the infection. But there remain many queries regarding the vaccine, and one among them is whether it is safe for cancer patients to take the vaccine.

The short answer to the question is, yes, cancer patients can take the vaccination, but you will have to consult with your oncologist first. The oncologist will suggest you a suitable time based on related factors like your ongoing therapy and the history of allergies. If you have any queries regarding vaccination for cancer patients, you can contact Kauvery hospital at 914440006000 to book an appointment or use the oncology doctors near me option.

Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccination: All Your Doubts Answered

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All you need to know about liver transplant

Liver transplant is the second most common type of transplant surgery performed, with the first one being kidney transplants. With the advancements in medical technologies, the transplant procedures have become simpler and less risky.

What is liver transplantation?

Liver transplantation involves surgical removal of the severely diseased liver that has no hope of regeneration and replacing it with a healthy donor liver or a portion of it.

Liver transplant surgery is recommended for people with severe liver conditions since it can save the life of the patient or improve the quality of life. Though liver transplants come with significant risks and complications, it has a very high success rate.

Types of liver transplants

There are two types of liver transplants depending on the type of donor.

      Deceased Donor Liver Transplant (DDLT)

•      This involves obtaining a healthy liver from a brain-dead person. This person might have donated his/her organs previous to his/her death, or consent would be received from the family members for organ donation later.

      Live Donor Liver Transplant (LDLT)

• Liver is a regenerative organ which means that it can replace the lost tissues by growing the remaining ones. Thus a part of a healthy liver from a living patient can be used as transplant and is completely safe for the donor and the recipient. There is no need for lifelong medications, and women can have normal pregnancy and motherhood.

• The live donor is usually a blood relative or spouse of the patient. A detailed evaluation of the prospective donor is done to ensure minimize the health risks involved and help in complete recovery.

What does liver transplant involve?

      First stage

      A team of specialists will first evaluate the patient with a review of medical history and other investigations to determine whether liver transplant is the best option or if there is a different option.

      Second stage

      If the patient is found to be suitable for liver transplant, we proceed to the second stage. In this stage, the patient’s name is placed on the waiting list, and the priority is determined on the scoring system based on the medical criteria and severity of the condition.

     Third stage

     This is when the donor becomes available, and the patient is contacted and informed about the donor’s medical condition. If the patient consents for the transplant, some basic tests are repeated to ensure the safety of his/her condition. After this, surgeons and anesthetists involved in the transplant will meet the patient and brief him/her about the procedure. If the test results are satisfactory, we then proceed to surgery.

Also Read: Liver Diseases – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Liver transplant procedure

Usually, the liver transplant procedure takes about 8 to 12 hours to complete, after which the patient is shifted to ICU. The patient might want to stay there for 3 to 7 days, but these aspects of the surgery might differ according to his/her condition.

After the patient is moved to ICU, many tubes are connected to his/her body to carry out the natural functions which are removed when deemed appropriate. After this, the patient is shifted to the room for 2-3 weeks, and thus in total, the patient might want to stay for 3-4 weeks in the hospital for the entirety of the procedure.

Liver transplant – discharge and recovery

Once the patient is regarded as stable by the doctors, he/she can be discharged from the hospital. But a follow-up schedule is recommended for the patient to ensure complete recovery. The patients and the family members are educated about the medications and necessary precautions before discharge. The dose of medications will reduce with time, and the pace of recovery depends on several factors. Usually, a patient is expected to resume daily activities within a month and go back to work after 3 months after the liver transplant surgery.

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Kidney Transplantation

Kidney transplant is one of the most common organ transplants performed today. This surgical procedure involves replacing a kidney which no longer functions properly with a healthy kidney got from a deceased or living donor.

Usually, dialysis is performed for people whose kidneys have failed. This involves mechanically filtering the waste in the bloodstream. But this requires frequent visits to the dialysis center which might turn labor-intensive with time. Thus if a person qualifies for getting a kidney transplant, it can free him/her from the time-consuming dialysis process.

Immunosuppressive drugs

There are also some complications involved with the kidney transplant procedure. During the procedure, a new organ is introduced into the body, and thus there is a risk of it being rejected by the body’s immune system. Immunosuppressive drugs are recommended to prevent the aggressive reaction of the body’s immune system to the transplant and for the transplant to perform its designated function.

Risk factors involved

When administering the immunosuppressive drugs, there are a few factors to consider.

·        If the dosage of immunosuppressive drugs is too high, the body’s immunity level becomes too low, making it prone to different infections.

·        On the other hand, if the dosage is lesser than the needed level, the immune system might start attacking the transplant.

Thus kidney transplantation is a procedure that needs to be done carefully from start to the end.

Also Read: Know the Signs of Kidney Failure

Advancements in treatment

Though kidney transplantation is a complicated procedure, there have been a lot of advancements that have happened in the medical industry. The success rate of kidney transplantation has climbed to 95-99% from a measly 20% over the 50 years.

New medicines and surgical procedures have been developed, and this involves identifying the complications that might occur and successfully treating them.

A ticket for new life

Recent advancements in treatments have made the procedure much easier to deal with and many people have started getting the same. If you have any serious complications with kidney and if you are eligible to get the transplant, you can proceed with the procedure instead of living in fear.

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