Breast Reconstruction in Singapore
Breast reconstruction is a common procedure in Singapore because breast cancer is a relatively common cancer in Singapore. In fact, it is the commonest female cancer in Singapore with an incidence of about 1 in 11 women. The annual number of new breast cancer cases in Singapore is more than 1000, and the number of yearly deaths from breast cancer is more than 400. Patients who require breast reconstruction are those who have undergone a mastectomy for breast cancer. A mastectomy is an operation where the breast containing the cancerous growth is surgically removed. In the old days, the nipple, areola, a substantial amount amount of skin, and sometimes even the underlying pectoralis major muscle were removed as well. Fortunately, with advances in breast health screening, and early breast cancer detection and diagnosis, such radical and mutilating operations are now rarely required. When breast cancer is picked up early and the tumor is small, it can be surgically removed without r...