[Sports Seoul] Breasts Lost After Breast Cancer Restored with 'Stem Cells'

Breast cancer is a major cancer threatening Korean women, with one in 25 women reportedly developing it. The incidence rate is particularly high among middle-aged women in their 40s and older. Experts recommend that, as life expectancy has increased to 85.5 years, it is wise to develop a habit of getting screened in advance to improve one's quality of life. 

The rising incidence of breast cancer among Korean women is also influenced by 'dense breasts,' a congenital genetic factor. Breast cancer originates in mammary gland tissue. Dense breasts refer to a condition where mammary gland tissue is more abundant than fat, and it is known that more than half of Korean women fall into this category.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of breast cancer patients was recorded at approximately 88,000 in 2009 and approximately 123,000 in 2013, showing the highest rate of increase in the world.

Shin Dong-jin, Director of SC301 Clinic, emphasized, “The best way to prevent breast cancer is through regular checkups, and self-examination must be made a part of daily life.”  

It is recommended that self-examinations be performed 3 to 5 days after menstruation ends each month, and that menopausal women set a specific day each month to perform them. First, visually observe the size of the breasts, skin condition, and nipple discharge when both arms are raised and lowered. Then, with one arm raised, massage the outer part of the chest in a clockwise circular motion using your fingertips. If there are significant changes in appearance or a lump is felt during this process, breast cancer should be suspected. 

Director Shin Dong-jin emphasized that controlling one's weight and reducing bra wearing time are essential to lowering breast cancer risk factors. He advised, "A 10kg weight gain increases the risk of breast cancer by 80%," adding, "Since research shows that the risk of developing breast cancer is higher in obese women, it is necessary to pay attention to maintaining an appropriate weight." He explained that while bras are a subject of debate and cannot be considered a direct cause of breast cancer, wearing them for extended periods is detrimental to breast health, as the underwire compresses the chest. 

Since being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing surgery often leads to a mastectomy, women are bound to feel a burden. Feeling that their femininity is suddenly being lost, they may fall into depression, or in severe cases, experience suicidal impulses. 

Recently, with health insurance now covering breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery, the sense of loss is being alleviated. Breast reconstruction surgery is broadly categorized into implant insertion and autologous fat grafting. 

The reconstructive surgery recommended by Director Shin is 'stem cell fat grafting.' After harvesting fat, only pure fat cells are separated, and stem cells are then extracted from a specific amount of fat to transplant both the pure fat and pure stem cells together. Stem cell breast augmentation is also utilized in breast enlargement surgery because it is advantageous for maintaining a natural shape that looks like one's original breasts, rather than appearing artificial. Furthermore, by transplanting fat and stem cells together, it has improved the low survival rate that was a limitation of conventional simple fat grafting. 

Director Shin Dong-jin stated, "Since breast cancer often presents with no significant pain before reaching the terminal stage, only early screening can guarantee safety." He added, "Breast reconstruction surgery, which was previously focused solely on implants, is recently seeing a significant influx into stem cell breast augmentation." He has proven the effectiveness of stem cell breast augmentation through three published papers at Shandong University School of Medicine in China. In the case of his 2015 paper, the engraftment rate of the stem cells was found to be 76%, which was evaluated as being world-class.