November 12, 2009 1:23 PM
- Text
New Hope For Post-Cancer Breast Growth
NEW YORK (CBS) 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.
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.
2 Comments +
Popular Now in Health
- Less couch, more veggies tied to healthier habits
- New approach for hard-to-treat hypertension?
- Consumer Reports rates top sunscreens for 2012
- Ga. woman battling flesh-eating bacteria speaks
- Taking aspirin cuts skin cancer risk, study shows
- FDA warns of fake Adderall sold online
- Panel against hormone therapy after menopause
- Skin cancer self-exam: What to look for (PHOTOS)
- Christina Hendricks: Too Big for Hollywood?
- Snake robots now aiding in surgical procedures
- Report: 10-year-old Colombian girl gives birth
- NASA scientists develop new osteoporosis test
- Birth control pills more likely to fail than IUDs
- Salmonella dog food scare causes recall
- Life-size Barbie's shocking dimensions
- Being an optimist may lead to long life
