Latest news with #BRCA-positive
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Actor Dipika Kakar undergoes mammography: Do women cancer survivors need to continue their mammograms?
Television actor Dipika Kakar, who is documenting her recovery journey after her liver cancer diagnosis and surgery, has now revealed that she underwent mammography to rule out any changes in her breast tissue. She says she did this because earlier in the year, before her liver cancer diagnosis, a mammography had revealed enlarged lymph nodes in her left breast. So she wanted to be sure. Do those in cancer therapy need to do mammography simultaneously? In a vlog, Kakar says that she consulted the doctor after she developed pain on her left side. Her first mammogram showed enlarged lymph nodes, which can arise from various reasons, including infection. Her doctor had said then that it didn't look suspicious but it would be good to do a repeat scan after three months. Other doctors said the pain could be the result of a muscle injury. She mentioned how, because of her surgery and her recovery, her time to get the mammography done had exceeded three months. Now the mammography has shown that her lymph nodes had shrunk. 'Women cancer survivors need to watch out for spread or recurrence once they are on follow-up therapy protocol. And that's why a mammogram is advised. Generally, we do not advise mammography alongside PET scan (which assesses spread, metastasis and treatment response) because any anomaly would automatically be picked up by the latter. We do not suggest it for all liver cancer survivors either without assessing individual cases and risks. But in cases of breast cancer, some survivors may be suggested to undergo mammography surveillance even while undergoing PET scans,' says Dr Jeyhan Dhabhar, consultant, medical oncology, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai. No matter where you develop cancer, you need surveillance through imaging tests of the breast. Unless the woman is a breast cancer survivor, we suggest mammograms to women survivors of other cancers only after they have completed their treatment protocol. Once they are on routine follow-up, we suggest mammography once in 12 to 18 months, the same as we advise any woman over the age of 45. However if the women are BRCA-positive, then there is a different screening protocol even if they develop cancer in any other part of the body. BRCA-positive women have a higher lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers due to inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Women with BRCA1 mutations have a 72% lifetime risk of breast cancer, while those with BRCA2 mutations have a 69% risk. Ovarian cancer risk also increases. So if a BRCA-positive woman has recovered from cancer in another part of the body, we recommend breast sonography once in six months and an MRI breast once in six months for monitoring purposes. Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create images and are often used to further investigate abnormalities found during mammograms. Once they are through with the treatment protocol, they should because mammograms can tell you about breast tissue anomalies or new growth. While breast cancer can sometimes spread to the liver, liver cancer does not directly increase the risk of breast cancer. You need to screen for new growth. Especially if you've only had one breast removed, you should be screening the other breast to rule out abnormal tissue growth.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Robotic surgery conducted on breast-cancer patient; Delhi hospital says '1st in north India'
A 37-year-old woman with a history of recurrent breast cancer has successfully undergone a less-invasive robotic oncological surgery at a Delhi hospital that has claimed it to be a first in north India. The woman had a history of recurrent breast cancer and BRCA gene mutation . #Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Clash Live Updates| Pak moving troops to border areas? All that's happening Why India chose to abstain instead of 'No Vote' against IMF billion-dollar funding to Pakistan How Pak's jihadi general Munir became trapped in his own vice She had undergone multiple cancer treatments and surgeries since 2017 and was admitted to the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital for a bilateral breast surgery due to her being on high risk of future breast cancer, involving a combination of conventional and robotic-assisted techniques. The surgery was carried out by a team of specialists, including Dr Ramesh Sarin, Senior Consultant-Surgical Oncology, Dr Arun Prasad, Senior Consultant-Gastrointestinal, Bariatric and Robotic Surgery, Dr Parag Sharma, Dr Jayanti Tumsi and Dr Sandip Bipte, the hospital said in a statement. The patient was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2017. Over the years, she underwent chemotherapy, multiple lumpectomies, radiotherapy and a salpingo-oophorectomy. Live Events Her BRCA-positive status further elevated the risk of recurrence, necessitating the preventive and reconstructive bilateral breast surgery, the statement said. After thorough evaluation and counselling, the surgical team devised a comprehensive plan that incorporated robotic technology on one side and advanced reconstructive techniques on the other, it said. The team utilised the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System to perform a nipple-sparing mastectomy on the right breast, while the left breast, which was previously treated twice with lumpectomies and radiation, underwent conventional mastectomy and reconstruction, using a musculo-cutaneous flap and implant. The robotic approach enabled enhanced precision and control, minimising surgical trauma and preserving the surrounding tissues. The patient tolerated the procedure well, made a swift recovery and was discharged in a stable condition, the statement said. "This procedure represents the future of breast-cancer surgery, especially with healthy breast needs to be removed to protect for future cancer development. The case selectiveness for such surgeries must be stringent," Dr Sarin said. She also spoke about how robotic-assisted techniques enable highly-precise excision of cancerous tissues while preserving the surrounding healthy tissues. Commenting on the success of the procedure, Dr Prasad emphasised that the introduction of robotic breast surgery in north India marks a transformative step forward in the field of surgical oncology. "Robotic-assisted procedures offer unmatched precision, particularly in complex cancer cases, where every millimetre matters. Such technology not only enhances surgical accuracy but also helps preserve vital structures, reduce operative trauma and deliver superior cosmetic and functional outcomes. This innovation is more than just a technological upgrade, it is a paradigm shift in how we approach cancer surgery, combining clinical excellence with compassionate, patient-centred care," he said.
