The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) recently held a symposium on breast surgery. The symposium took place last May 24 and at the auditorium and the Operating Room where surgeons performed surgeries and was shared via live feed.
In his Opening Remarks, Medical Director Dr. Samuel Ang gave thanks to Dr. Mok Chi Wei and Dr. Ang Wei Wen for coming to the Hospital to share techniques and information on the latest procedures in breast surgery. He also acknowledged guest doctors from St. Luke’s and East Avenue Medical from the audience.
The robotic surgery is very new in the Philippines, and he expressed appreciation to the guests surgeons for being generous in sharing knowledge.
The first speaker was Dr. Ang Wei Wen. Dr. Ang is a Tan Tock Seng Hospital surgeon, a Changi General Hospital consultant, an Associate Programme Director at Singhealth Post Graduate Residency, a Physician faculty at Singhealth General Surgery Residency, and a Clinical Assistant Professor.
Dr. Ang gave an overview of breast surgery. He answered the question of what minimally invasive breast surgery is. The evolution of techniques, the pros and cons, clinical outcomes, and research.
Sharing some insights into this very relevant topic, Dr. Ang discussed success rates, patient satisfaction as well as ongoing studies and advancements in this field.
The second speaker Dr. Mok Chi Wei went on to discuss Patient Selection and Technique in minimal-access Breast Surgery
Dr. Mok is a specialist at Singapore’s Changi General Hospital. He is a fellow of the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh.
The two surgeons said that breast surgery has undergone evolution through the past centuries. One of the important goals is to minimize breast resection without command andising oncological safety. The introduction of radiotherapy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and new chemotherapy regimens However surgical technique has remained stagnant for the past four decades.
The first day Robotic Surgery was performed at the OR and shared via live feed to the auditorium. The two surgeons were joined by CGHMC; s own, Dr. Sammie Cunanan and Dr. Valerie Chan.
On the second day of the symposium, Dr. Ang talked about the Pearls and Pitfalls of Endoscopic and Robotic Surgery
Dr. Mok Chi Wei focused on Current Trends, Updates on Feasibility, and Progress He also discussed the future of minimally invasive surgery,
The live endoscopic Breast Surgery was performed by Dr, Mok Chi Wei, Dr. Ang Wei Wen with our surgeons Dr. Joyce Chua, Dr. Remi Velasco and Dr. Lyka Tanchip.
It was pointed out that the advantages of Robotic surgery for doctors are it enables surgeons’ better visualization, better tissue removal at difficult areas, better ergonomics, and less nipple necrosis. For patients, the advantages are less scarring, faster recovery, and improved aesthetics. A video of CGHMC’s new center of excellence, Breast Center was also shown during the symposium. Dr, Joyce Hazel Chua, the head of the center said that the Philippines has a high incidence of breast cancer. The Center is manned by highly skilled breast surgeons, radiologists, state-of-the-art surgical techniques, and medical equipment. Comprehensive care includes screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. The Breast Center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and surgical techniques such as oncoplastic breast surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and vacuum-assisted biopsy.
Commitment to patient care is CGHMC.s top priority. Continuous learning and collaboration with top hospitals is part of the institution’s bid for excellence in the medical field, and fulfillment of its mission to provide exceptional care within reach.
