Portuguese health units implement innovative breast cancer surgeries

Health units in Portugal have successfully implemented innovative, minimally invasive surgical techniques for breast cancer treatment.

In the Algarve region, the ULS Algarve performed its first laparoscopic mastectomy combined with immediate breast reconstruction using an implant at Hospital do Barlavento Algarvio. This procedure utilizes smaller, strategically placed incisions to offer aesthetic advantages and preserve breast skin. The surgical team included José Ignacio Chaviano Hernández, Henrique Morais, and Gabriela Valadas.

Similarly, the Unidade Local de Saúde do Litoral Alentejano (ULSLA) conducted its first endoscopic mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. This multidisciplinary effort between senology, general surgery, and plastic surgery aims to provide specialized oncological care locally, reducing the need for patients to travel to other medical centers. These advancements are particularly significant given that breast cancer remains the most frequent oncological disease among women in Portugal, with approximately 9,000 new cases diagnosed annually.