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Royal Free hospital surgeons made a small hole in Paula McGinley’s armpit to minimise scarring |
‘I didn’t feel ill or disfigured, it was amazing’
Royal Free becomes Europe’s first hospital to perform revolutionary keyhole mastectomy
A RADIO producer from Camden Town has undergone a revolutionary “no scars” breast cancer operation in a European first at the Royal Free Hospital.
Paula McGinley, 46, had her breast removed through a tiny hole beneath her armpit.
Because breast tissue contains no muscle and is softer it can be taken out in one go.
In standard mastectomies, surgeons have to open up the entire breast to remove cancerous lumps, causing lasting disfigurement and the need for future cosmetic surgery.
Ms McGinley, who produces programmes for BBC Radio 4, said: “The results of the surgery were amazing and I was out of hospital within five days. You expect it to make you feel different, but I didn’t feel ill or disfigured. The scarring was so minimal.
“Looking at it didn’t freak me out at all, although it took me a while to actually look down. But it was still my body.
“Losing my hair to chemotherapy afterwards was the worst part. Even if the cancer came back I could deal with it again, and that’s down to the care I’ve had.”
Surgeons can see what they are doing by inserting a small camera through another tiny hole in the nipple. Another benefit is that implants can be inserted into the breast and inflated during the same operation.
Royal Free surgeon Mo Keshtgar, who has monitored the effectiveness of the surgery in Japan, said: “This is another tool in our armoury. Some patients are very concerned about scarring, but this reduces that. It gives surgeons a better view of the tumour, access is minimal and there is minimal scarring.
“Recovery time will also be quicker by around one or two days – although it is too early to draw any firm conclusions on this.
“I feel it’s a technique that would benefit a significant number of women.”
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), which advises the government on what treatments to fund, have a working panel to monitor the use of keyhole breast surgery at the Royal Free.
The hospital is hoping that the publicity will increase the numbers of women going for breast screening in Camden.
Recent figures show just over half of women invited to attend free breast screening by Camden Primary Care Trust actually attend.
Ms McGinley discovered she had a lump after going for routine tests after her sister tragically died two years earlier from ovarian cancer.
She said: “If it hadn’t been for Moira, I wouldn’t have had the test. After the diagnosis, I drank champagne.
“I’m immensely grateful, but also immensely sad that I couldn’t have helped Moira.” |
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