Why Choose Us
Rapid access to diagnosis and treatment
A One Stop TRIPLE ASSESSMENT is offered to all women and men presenting to the Breast Centre. This is a unique set up, FIRST of its kind in the Country, where Clinical Assessment, Breast imaging and Breast biopsy are all done under one roof in a specific purpose built Breast Centre. One does not need to go to Radiology Department for Mammogram or Ultrasound assessment. The results of Imaging will be available within the hour – same day. The Core biopsy/FNAC report would be available in two – three days.
Digital Tomosythesis (3D Mammography)
We were the first Centre in South India and the Second Unit in the Country to have acquired the Full Field Digital Mammography system – FFDM(2007),where the traditional conventional x-ray film is replaced by electronics that convert x-rays into digital pictures of the breast. This is similar to pictures captured on digital cameras. Advantages being better quality pictures/images, much lower radiation dose & significantly less discomfort.
And then…15 years later…The BEST just got BETTER
We are the first Centre in Telangana/Andhra Pradesh and the Second Unit in the Country to have acquired the most advanced – latest, fastest and highest resolution version of 3D Mammography Unit.
Multidisciplinary care
Individualized treatment (Surgery/Chemotherapy/Hormone Therapy/ Targeted therapy/Radiotherapy) is offered by a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) using evidence based guidelines. Every patient has a unique set of issues to consider. A passionate Multidisciplinary Team, which includes Surgeons, Radiologists, Radiographers, Pathologists, Medical Oncologists, Nuclear Medicine Specialists, Radiation Oncologists, Breast Care Nurses & Palliative Care Specialists will ensure the best possible individualized care & outcomes.
Counselling
We take great pride in giving utmost importance to Counseling. As 9 out of 10 Breast health issues are benign (non cancerous), Counseling at our Breast Centre involves reassuring the vast majority of women who are ‘worried well’ in addition to providing the much-needed emotional assistance to those diagnosed with breast cancer.
We believe that counseling is 50% of Breast cancer care. In those diagnosed with breast cancer, meticulous attention is given to explaining the results in simple easy to understand format, and equally, preparing/giving the much needed confidence before commencing treatment to the patient and their relatives. Adequate psychological & emotional support is provided taking into consideration individual needs of patients and their families in a sensitive and supportive environment at the Breast Centre.
Oncoplastic Breast Surgery & Breast reconstruction
Oncoplastic Breast surgery is relatively new concept and refers to techniques that combine principles of Oncological surgery with Plastic surgery in women having breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy), thus achieving superior cosmetic results and patient satisfaction.
Immediate (at the time of Breast cancer surgery) and Delayed Breast Reconstruction (many months after Breast cancer surgery) is offered to women undergoing Mastectomy (removal of breast) for Breast cancer.
Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB)
As breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes in the axilla (arm pit), it is a standard practice to remove lymph nodes at the same time as surgery to the breast. The traditional management is to do a formal Axillary Node Clearance where most of the lymph nodes in the axilla (arm pit) are removed. However, this procedure can potentially cause significant morbidity, such as altered sensation & swelling (lymphedema) of the arm. Moreover, removal of all lymph nodes in axilla may not be necessary in many women presenting with early cancer.
Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) is a minimally invasive procedure that is offered to women who are unlikely to have spread of cancer to lymph nodes in the axilla. This procedure significantly improves the accuracy of axillary staging in women with early breast cancer & the latest generation Indocyanine green (ICG) Fluorescence Navigation System is used to remove the sentinel nodes, thus minimizing the morbidity when compared with the traditional axillary node clearance.
Breast Screening
Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Breast Screening by way of Mammography (X- ray of the breasts) is an effective proven way of detecting breast cancer early many years before the lady or the doctor can feel the lump in the breast.
Since inception, we have been at the forefront in creating awareness about this very important fact through a number of innovative initiatives. Breast Screening is recommended annually (once every year or atleast once in two years) for women 40 years and over.
Vacuum Assisted Breast Biopsy (VABB)
Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy (VABB) is a revolutionary new minimally invasive technique that is used to accurately sample/remove indeterminate breast lesions/microcalcifications suspicious of cancer that may get missed by traditional core needle biopsy, thus avoiding the need for open surgery to obtain diagnosis.
Also, VABB is used to remove small benign non cancerous lesions (Fibroadenoma) in carefully selected patients. A pin hole cut is made in the skin overlying the lesion in the breast and with a VABB gun, the entire lump can be removed under local anaesthesia at the Breast Centre. The patient can go home on the same day within a few hours after the procedure. This procedure is one option for young women who choose to have small benign non cancerous lumps removed.
Family History & Breast Cancer Prevention Clinic
The Breast Centre conducts dedicated Family History Clinic on specific days of the week aimed at reaching out to women at high risk of developing breast cancer. Based on the history and assessment, Genetic testing would be offered to women at high risk of developing familial breast cancer & those found to be at high risk will be counselled with the appropriate Breast cancer preventive strategy based on evidence based guidelines.
Promoting “Breast awareness”
We have been working tirelessly to actively promote the concept of BREAST AWARENESS, which is gaining increasing acceptance world over. This is clearly a move away from the popularly held concept of rigorous Breast Self Examination (BSE), which has not proven to be effective
Being “Breast Aware” is about becoming familiar with the breasts and the way they change throughout a woman’s life. It is a concept that encourages women to know how their breasts look and feel normally so that they gain confidence about noticing any change which might help detect breast cancer early.
Changes That You Must Be Aware
A change in size, it may be that one breast has become noticeably larger or noticeably lower
A lump or thickening in your breast that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue
Puckering or dimpling of the skin overlying the breast
Blood stained spontaneous discharge from the nipple
Constant pain in one part of your breast or in your armpit
A rash on or around the nipple
A swelling under the armpit or around collarbone (where the lymph nodes are)
Breast Awareness 5 – Point Code
- Know what is normal for you
- Know what changes to look & feel for
- Look and feel
- Report any changes to your Doctor without delay
- Have a Screening Mammogram ideally every year (atleast once every two years) if you are aged 40 and over