Recent Trends in Breast Reconstruction Using Stem Cells

Abstract

The female breast is intimately associated with a woman’s self-esteem, sexuality, and interpersonal relations. Breast reconstruction following mastectomy affects directly the quality of life of the patient by restoration of the self image and feeling complete again, and removal of the social stigma of having one or both breasts excised. Breast reconstruction offers restoration of breast symmetry to such women who underwent mastectomy, achieved by creating a breast mound that is similar in size, shape, contour, and position to the opposite breast. Women thus gain the freedom to wear a variety of clothing, without needing external breast prostheses, and have been shown to have less psychological morbidity than those who have mastectomy without reconstruction. Stem cell and tissue engineering approach is a promising field in breast reconstructive surgery. To understand the basic biology of stem cell is an important step in cell-based and tissue-constructed therapy for patients with breast reconstruction. Further challenges are how to reduce the complications, avoid tumor recurrence, and increase patient satisfaction with state-of-the-art stem cell and tissue engineering paradigm for breast reconstructive surgery.The psychological impact of surgery in breast cancer patients stems from fears which are two-fold: the fear of cancer recurrence and the fear of a negative cosmetic result, Better cosmetic results often produce better psychological outcomes.