Share review of Mr Paul Thiruchelvam

Mr Paul Thiruchelvam 2020-06-27 Person 5 5 0

I was diagnosed with hormonal breast cancer in May 2020 requiring a lumpectomy and removal of 4 lymph nodes. Due to the fact I have large breasts which were causing me health problems, I was asked if I have been considering a breast reduction now or in the future, as I would be able to have this procedure under the NHS at the same time as my cancer surgery. I was advised that the reduction would not be possible after radiotherapy. I found Mr Thiruchelvam to be extremely thorough in explaining what the operation would entail and also what the possible risks could be, the main one being necrosis of the nipple (as my nipple had to be repositioned some distance from where it was and could die during the operation as there was a chance that the blood supply might not reconnect in the new position). Mr Thiruchelvam was very reassuring to me throughout, and kept reiterating that he would do his absolute best to try and make sure this did not happen. I felt I was in very safe hands. Mr Thiruchelvam was also very clear throughout that due to Covid19, he would only be able to operate on the cancerous breast at this time, with the other breast not being operated on for another year to 18 months. This is because it was not advisable to operate on a healthy breast at this time. He told me that I would be very lopsided until then, and this was another thing to take into consideration before I made the decision whether or not to go ahead with the reduction. Another consideration he explained was that should I opt for the mammoplasty as well, he would be able to remove a much wider margin of tissue around the tumour. I decided to go ahead with the mammoplasty and I am absolutely ecstatic with the results. The margins in my breast are clear. My nipple survived and the size and shape of my (as I call it) 'new' breast are exactly as I wished for. I could not have had a better result and I have Mr Thiruchelvam to thank for that.