“Women’s health has always been a passion of mine,” would probably sufficiently explain why Dr Anannya Chakrabarti is a reconstructive breast surgeon, but it wouldn’t do the journey professionals and patients go on justice.
Practising in a highly-specialised field, Dr Chakrabarti said breast surgery is a good mix between science and art.
“There is quite a lot of satisfaction in my job that you get to see the strength and resilience of the women that I treat,” she said.
The reality of women battling breast cancer and going through a mastectomy, the surgical removal of one or both breasts, is having to come to terms with losing an integral part of oneself.
“Rebuilding a woman’s breast is very important for their psychology after such a devastating diagnosis,” Dr Chakrabarti said.
“Being able to give them some semblance of normality after essentially a major life event can be very satisfying.”
Another reality of experiencing and treating breast cancer is that it is it can be emotionally intensive time.
“Emotionally, it can be quite taxing at times,” Dr Chakrabarti said.
“You see people’s relationships go through a bit of a rollercoaster, but most people pull through quite nicely.
“It’s very satisfying seeing them celebrate milestones like having children after diagnosis.”
Which is why one of the prevailing messages of modern breast cancer treatment is the importance of hope and that there can be a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Traditionally, people think of what they see in movies, but we’re so good at treating people now and really making sure their side effects are well-controlled that we have a very different ethos,” Dr Chakrabarti said.
“What I tell patients is ‘Look, it’s a busy time in your life, it does go through very quickly and obviously not everyone has the same story but the majority of people are cured.”
“So it’s all about hope and moving forward.”
Despite how overwhelming and life-changing a breast cancer diagnosis can be, Dr Chakrabarti said that it is important to not let the condition rule one’s life.
“People do have control over what they do, they can exercise during their treatment, and continue to work during their treatment,” she said.
“It shouldn’t be taking over your life, you should be doing all the normal things you normally do.
“No one ever wants to hear it, but you’ve got to just think I’m having treatment for a medical condition.”
Some important points to remember when having a discussion about breast cancer is that early detection is king and that men, even if they make up less than one per cent of diagnoses in Australia, can develop breast cancer.
Dr Chakrabarti said no man or woman is an island, and that is especially the case for what long, and at times, arduous medical procedures.
“It’s important to understand that you are not just treating the individual, you are treating the whole unit,” she said.
“There is a lot more we can do as a society to help those who are helping the person going through it.”
“I think that probably the family goes through it more- It’s like when you are giving birth the husband is sort of sitting there more anxious.”
