YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mercy Health’s Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center is expanding breast cancer treatment options for patients with the availability of endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy.
The minimally invasive surgical approach can offer eligible patients less visible scarring while preserving the skin and nipple, as well as less postoperative pain and greater satisfaction and well-being during recovery, a news release states.
Performed through small incisions, E-NSM allows surgeons to remove breast tissue while preserving the skin and nipple when clinically appropriate. Specialized endoscopic technology provides surgeons with enhanced visualization during the procedure and can help minimize visible scarring compared with traditional surgical approaches.
Dr. Nicole Reyes, a breast surgeon with Mercy Health, has completed specialized training in the technique and is bringing the minimally invasive surgical option to women throughout the Mahoning Valley and surrounding communities.
“As we continue to advance the ways we care for people with breast cancer, it’s important that we look not only at how effectively we can treat the disease, but also at how we can make the experience of treatment better for our patients,” Reyes said. “For the right patient, endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy can offer an effective way to treat or help prevent breast cancer while preserving the skin and nipple and minimizing visible scarring. Facing a breast cancer diagnosis is incredibly difficult, and having an option that can help patients feel more like themselves after surgery can be an important part of their care.”
For patients who choose to undergo breast reconstruction and are medically appropriate candidates, Mercy Health plastic surgeon Dr. Adam Cash can perform immediate reconstruction as part of the patient’s surgical care. The breast and plastic surgery teams work together to coordinate cancer treatment and reconstruction as part of an individualized treatment plan.
“Breast reconstruction is an important part of the care journey for many patients who choose to undergo mastectomy,” Cash said. “Working closely with the breast surgery team allows us to plan reconstruction around each patient’s anatomy, treatment needs and goals, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcome for the individual patient.”
The addition of E-NSM expands the range of services available through Mercy Health’s Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center, where patients have access to prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and support from a multidisciplinary team of specialists.
The center has earned accreditation and recognition from leading organizations, including the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer as an Integrated Network Cancer Program, the American College of Radiology and the American Society for Radiation Oncology.
“Cancer treatment is only one part of a patient’s journey. We also have to think about survivorship and what life looks like after treatment,” Reyes said. “For patients who are candidates for nipple-sparing surgery, this approach gives us another option that can help preserve the natural appearance of the breast and support their quality of life as they move forward.”