New Hope For Post-Cancer Breast Growth and/or any severe physical defect after disfiguring trauma
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New Hope For Post-Cancer Breast Growth
November 12, 2009 1:23 PM
According to reports out of Australia, researchers in the field of
Microvascular and Reconstructive Surgery are about to begin testing a way
in which women could re-grow breasts using their own fat cells.
Stem cells that would be implanted under a biodegradable chamber or form
in the breast region, attached to a blood supply coming from the woman's
armpit and stimulated to grow using a liquid solution.
The hopes are that within 4 to 6 months, enough fat tissue would develop
in the form of the breast contour of the chamber to resemble the woman's
breast. The potential benefit for a procedure like this ranges from
reconstruction treatment after mastectomy for breast cancer, to therapy
for any severe physical defect after disfiguring trauma, to even
cosmetic/elective breast augmentation.
For breast cancer patients, at least, this treatment appears to be at
least 3 years away, and for elective/cosmetic indications, it is likely a
decade away before being readily available. The challenges for regrowing
breasts are significant because breast tissue is made of fat, glands and
muscle and typically is considered to be hormonally-responsive, in that
hormonal stimulation can effect changes in the breast itself.
However, this work is potentially exciting since reconstruction following
breast cancer surgery is both physically and psychologically significant.
We will follow this area closely and bring you any updates when they are
available.