New Delhi: In a medical breakthrough, an African woman has been cured of a rare form of skin cancer (Syringocystadeno carcinoma paplliferum) following her treatment at a hospital in Bengaluru, India.
Doctors treating her say the case was the first of its kind diagnosed and treated in the world.
The 5kg tumour that appeared on the woman’s left breast in November 2014 was first diagnosed as chronic mastitis - breast cancer - in her home country Nigeria.
She was put on a lot of antibiotics, which brought little change to her medical condition. She then underwent surgery, wherein the biopsy report suggested papillary carcinoma.
With no proper treatment plan and lack of direction, the 37-year-old and her family decided to visit Dr Anthony Pais at Cytecare in Bengaluru, for treatment on the recommendation of a local doctor.
At Cytecare, she was diagnosed with skin tumour (Syringocystadeno carcinoma paplliferum) and was advised surgery.
“The surgery took about five hours. We could identify that it was a skin cancer which had spread into her left breast and not breast cancer,” said Dr Anthony V Pais, head of oncoplastic breast surgery, Cytecare Cancer Hospital.
Doctors at the hospital said there have been just 12 to 15 incidents of this type of cancer, which appears on the scalp, neck, back, ear etc. However, this was the first time that the tumour was detected on the breast.
“I have got the best doctor and the best treatment, my pathogenic condition is under good control and my physical condition has improved by a series of treatment. Cancer changes your life, often for the better,” said Amina, expressing her gratitude in view of the meticulous care received at Cytecare and who is on the path to overcoming the disease.
Reflecting upon the diagnosis of the rare skin cancer, Dr Pais said it is very difficult to know about the disease or diagnose it at an early stage. So, there is no precaution and can’t be prevented.
He said excessive exposure to sunlight can be one of the reasons and that proper surgery and radiotherapy are the answer.
“Even mammography is of no help, as it can detect only breast cancer and not the type of skin cancer on the breast. So, self-examination of the breast including the skin is the only precaution one can take,” he aaded.
Cancer is now the second biggest killer, after heart disease and stroke in India - up from seventh position in 2000, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO). Cancer is also the second leading cause of death globally.
