Scientists Hope to Re-Grow Human Breasts
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| Thu, 11-12-2009 - 10:08am |
This information sounds very promising to women who have had mastectomies. It has nothing to do with genetic altering...
Please read entire article below.
Scientists Hope to Re-Grow Human Breasts
Australian Study on Pigs May Lead to Revolutionary Procedure for Women Who've Had a Mastectomy
(CBS) Tests carried out on pigs have given Australian scientists hope that they will be able to re-grow women's breasts lost to cancer.
According to a report by CBS News partner network Sky News, researchers at the Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery in Melbourne have been developing a technique to re-grow fat tissue underneath the breast.
Scientists implant a chamber underneath the skin and then connect a blood vessel to the tissue that enables it to grow in six to eight months.
The doctors hope to create a biodegradable chamber that dissolves inside the body after it fills up, a process which should take about 24 months.
"Nature abhors a vacuum, so the chamber itself, because it is empty, it tends to be filled-in by the body," Dr. Marzella told Sky.
Thus far, tests have only been conducted on pigs. Researchers are looking into possible clinical trials on women who have had mastectomies, according to the report.
"We are starting what is called a prototype in the next three to six months-a proof of principle trial with about five to six women, just to demonstrate that the body can re-grow its own fat supply in the breast," the institute's Dr. Phillip Marzella told Sky.
The procedure would be a new alternative to breast implants.
CBS News medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton reports that the procedure could be ready for use in humans in just three years, and that within 10 years, it may be commonplace enough to be used in cosmetic enhancement surgeries.
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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/12/tech/main5627013.shtml?tag=stack

This is great news. I hope it becomes a reality in the near future. I have several family members and friends who would benefit from this.
On another note, thank you personally for all you do to help fight the fight for women's causes and health concerns.
Midwesternman,
It is good to know that you are in tune with women's issues.
What I like about this possible future procedure is the fact that it lets the body rebuild itself, with minimal interference of foreign objects in the body. We all hear in the news about the horrors of some breast implants!
About a month ago a bunch of us friends got together to play some trivia at a local nightspot we like. As I looked around the table that night, there were 5 ladies and 5 men.......4 of the ladies had already went through breast cancer treatments and are all doing well at the moment thank God. The 5th, my wife, had an appointment scheduled later that week to have a follow-up visit with her doctor due to him finding something "not-quite-right" on her x-rays. Thankfully, it was a false alarm, but it's just so frustrating to me why so many women seem to be going through all this pain, both physical and emotional. At least there may be some hope of making women "whole" again, and not have to go the "implant" route. I, too, have known ladies that had very serious problems post surgery
Thanks for sharing. I agree, it is a big problem for society as a whole. Hopefully scientists will figure out how to stop or control it.
This is great, but what about arms and legs?
Yes, breasts are not as necessary. But if it helps women get better self esteem and appear like the rest of society, I think it is worthwhile. Especially after the trauma they have been through.