Surgery for breast cancer is common in Western countries but not reconstruction
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the US and EU/UK
2.3 million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020
United Estates
281,550
Europe - 27
355,457
United Kingdom
54,700
Breast cancer surgery
of patients in the UK receive surgical therapy
0
%
of patients in the US are under-70 years old
0
%
of all US women requiring mastectomy are offered breast reconstruction
<
0
%
Breast reconstruction: Current breast reconstruction approaches are not ideal
Current breast reconstruction approaches have issues with donor site morbidity, immuno-compatibility and graft / implant failure
Autologous/fat tissue grafts
Complications
- Complications for flaps are higher (36-74%) than implants (27-31%)
- Flap failure
- Donor site morbidity
- Fat graft reabsorbed or necrosis
Saline/silicone implants
Complications
- Capsular contracture (scar tissue distorts breast shape)
- Breast pain, infection, changes in nipple and breast sensation
- Implant leakage or rupture
- Risk of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma
- Median lifespan of 10 years