• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women.
  
• Being female and getting older are the two main risk factors of breast cancer.
  
• Breast cancer may not be hereditary. Over 90 per cent of women in Singapore with breast cancer have no known family history of the disease.
  
• Never ignore a lump, but don't panic, most breasts are lumpy anyway.
  
• The average age when breast cancer is detected is 50.
  
• Most lumps detected under the age of 30 are benign.
  
• The best time to do your monthly self-examination is 10 days after the start of your period.
  
• Men can develop breast cancer too. One per cent of all breast cancers discovered are in men.
  
• You can decrease your chances of developing breast cancer by eating a low-fat diet, exercising and drinking alcohol in moderation, if at all.
  
• Women above the age of 45 should have a mammogram every one or two years.
  
• 90 per cent of breast lumps are felt by women themselves.
  
• The four main treatments for breast cancer are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy.

(Source: Breast Cancer Foundation)

Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy

Patients who need to have their breast removed (mastectomy) for treatment of breast cancer may decide to undergo breast reconstruction. Most women, of any age, can undergo breast reconstruction. There are different reconstruction methods and one method may prove more suitable for one woman compared to another.

The aim of breast reconstruction is to create a breast form similar in size and shape to the woman's own breast so that she is symmetrical in a bra. It may be done at the same time as the mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or at a later date (delayed reconstruction). Some women find immediate reconstruction more helpful because it helps them cope with the emotions related to losing a breast. There are several ways in which a breast form can be created.

Submuscular Breast Reconstruction

This makes use of an implant, that best match the shape and size of the woman's breast, which is placed beneath the muscles that covers the chest. It is suitable for women who have fairly small breasts with little natural droop. It is not suitable for women with large breasts or those who have had radiotherapy because the skin becomes less likely to stretch enough to accommodate the appropriate size implant.

Reconstruction using tissue from the back or abdomen

Another method of reconstruction is to make use of the body's own tissue to recreate a new breast form. Surgeons are able to use muscle and skin from the rectus abdominis (abdomen) to recreate both the skin envelope and the breast tissue.

"This method is suitable for women who have large breast and a slight paunch," says CGH breast surgeon Dr Tan Su Ming. However, the initial discomfort may be greater and recovery takes a longer time. "There is usually some weakness of the abdominal wall", she added.

Another muscle that can be used is the latissimus dorsi, a large muscle on the back that can be transferred to the front of the chest to create a breast form. For women with larger breasts, an implant may be placed beneath this muscle to achieve the desired size.

"The scar caused by taking back muscles is usually horizontal so it can be covered by the bra strap." Dr Tan says