Authored by Dr. Harish Dara, Consultant Surgical Oncologist (MBBS, MS, FMAS, DrNB – Surgical Oncology) from Malla Reddy Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Hyderabad.
Breast Cancer Awareness is a global healthcare initiative observed every October to increase understanding and remove the stigma surrounding the disease. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, with more than 2 lakh new cases reported every year in India alone. Every October, we see ribbons on billboards, awareness runs, and countless social media posts encouraging women to get screened. But for those of us in the operating room, breast cancer awareness isn’t just a month; it’s a daily mission.
A Lesson from Meera: A Journey of Courage and Hope
Meera came to us one afternoon, quiet but visibly anxious. Meera, a 38-year-old schoolteacher and mother of two, had discovered a lump in her left breast nearly three months earlier. Like many women, she chose to ignore it, hoping it would disappear on its own. It didn’t. When the biopsy results confirmed that it was cancer, her first question wasn’t, “Will I live?” It was, “Will I lose my breast?”
That single question has echoed in countless consultation rooms over the years. For decades, surgeons had only one answer: the radical mastectomy. It was life-saving, but emotionally devastating. Today, we have better answers.
Meera’s scans showed an early-stage tumour, allowing us to plan a breast-conserving surgery with oncoplastic reconstruction; a procedure that removes the cancer completely while preserving the breast’s natural shape and appearance. The night before her surgery, she looked at me and said softly, “Doctor, I don’t want to wake up and feel incomplete.”
The next morning, as the anaesthesia wore off, she slowly opened her eyes, touched her chest, and whispered through tears, “It’s still there.” Moments like that remind me why I chose this field: to heal not just the body, but also the spirit.
Dr. Harish Dara,
Sr. Surgical Oncologist at Malla Reddy Narayana Multispecialty Hospital, Hyderabad
From Radical to Rational
There was a time when “cancer” meant disfigurement. The Halsted radical mastectomy, removal of the breast, chest muscles, and lymph nodes, was once standard. It saved lives but left emotional scars that ran deep.
Research has since shown that breast-conserving surgery (BCS), when combined with radiotherapy, achieves the same survival rates while allowing women to retain their confidence and sense of self.
This evolution from removing more to healing better represents one of the greatest revolutions in modern oncology.
Where Science Meets Art: Oncoplastic Surgery
Modern breast cancer surgery is more than tumour removal — it’s reconstruction, restoration, and renewal. Oncoplastic surgery blends cancer removal with reconstructive techniques, using the patient’s own tissue to restore balance and symmetry. For larger tumours, surgeons may reshape the opposite breast to achieve a natural look.
The goal is simple: the patient should not only survive but also feel whole again. Surgery, in this context, truly becomes a science guided by art.
Smaller Cuts, Greater Comfort
Another quiet yet powerful advancement is the sentinel lymph node biopsy. In the past, all axillary lymph nodes were removed, often leading to long-term arm swelling and discomfort. Today, by identifying and sampling only the sentinel node, the first node likely to spread cancer, we can significantly reduce post-surgical complications. It’s a small change in technique but a major step forward in quality of life, allowing women to return to their routines, careers, and families with comfort and confidence.
Looking Ahead with Precision and Compassion
Technology continues to reshape cancer care. We’re already performing scarless endoscopic and robotic breast surgeries, where incisions are discreetly placed in the armpit. With innovations like fluorescence imaging and intraoperative margin assessment, precision has reached new heights. But no matter how advanced the tools become, one principle remains constant: compassion heals best. Empathy during counselling, reassurance before surgery, and genuine care afterward are the foundations of true recovery.
A Message This October
Breast Cancer Awareness Month isn’t just about ribbons or events; it’s about real stories like Meera’s, where courage meets science. If there’s one message I’d share this October, it’s this: Early detection saves lives. Modern surgery preserves identity. At Malla Reddy Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, breast cancer care goes beyond treatment. It’s about helping women heal, feel whole, and live fearlessly again.
