What you need to know about Mastectomy in Ukraine

Mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all breast tissue from a breast. The goal of this surgery is to treat breast cancer. It is often performed when a woman cannot be treated with breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), which is a surgery where only the tumor is removed while the breast is preserved. Mastectomy is also the main treatment for breast cancer in men. Because men only have little breast tissue, and most tumors in men appear under the nipple, surgeons usually need to remove the whole breasts. Depending on your situation, mastectomy can be done to remove only one breast (known as unilateral mastectomy) or both breasts (known as bilateral mastectomy).

Mastectomy may be recommended to treat numerous types of breast cancer, including early-stage breast cancer (Stages I and II), locally advanced breast cancer (stages III), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), inflammatory breast cancer, locally recurrent breast cancer, and Paget’s disease of the breast. Your doctor may recommend mastectomy if the cancer is in a large area of the breast or cancer has spread all around the breast. A mastectomy may also be recommended if you have a very high risk of developing breast cancer. Mastectomy performed to prevent breast cancer is known as prophylactic mastectomy. Doctors also recommend mastectomy for people with gynecomastia.

In most cases, breast reconstruction can be done at the same time as your mastectomy, but you can also choose to have it at a later date.

Breast cancer can be dangerous and life-threatening. It can change every aspect of your life in different ways. Breast cancer can also spread to other parts of the body, causing more complications. After a mastectomy, your quality of life should improve. Cancer may not spread to other parts of the body, and you may have higher survival rates.

MyMediTravel currently lists 1 facilities in Ukraine offering Mastectomy procedures - see above for the complete list, along with estimated prices. The price of a Mastectomy can vary according to each individual’s case and will be determined based on photos and an in-person assessment with the specialist. For a personalized quote Click Here to submit your details

What does the Procedure Involve?

During a mastectomy, a horizontal or diagonal incision is made across your breast so the tissue can be removed. The amount of tissue removed will depend on the type of mastectomy you are undergoing as other parts of the breast may also be removed. Some of the main types of mastectomy are as follows:

A total mastectomy removes the whole breast, including your nipple, areola, and skin. Depending on the situation, the surgeon may also remove some underarm lymph nodes. This procedure is mostly performed on women with large or multiple areas of (DCIS) and women who need to prevent breast cancer (prophylactic mastectomy).
Skin-sparing mastectomy involves removing all breast tissue, areola, and nipple, but not the skin covering the breast. However, it may not be ideal for large tumors.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy is a variation of the skin-sparing mastectomy. During this type of mastectomy, only the breast tissue is removed, while the skin, nipple, and areola are left in place.
Radical mastectomy is the most extensive type of mastectomy. It involves removing the entire breast (breast tissue, skin, nipple, and areola), lymph nodes of the underarm, and pectoral muscles under the breast. It is only recommended if the breast cancer has spread to the pectoral muscle.

All types of mastectomy are performed under general anesthetic, so you will be ‘asleep’ and unaware of anything while the surgery is carried out.

How Long Should I Stay in Ukraine?

A mastectomy takes about 1 to 3 hours to complete. Most patients are allowed to leave the hospital on the same day. If the procedure is followed by breast reconstruction, you may need to stay for 2 to 3 days. In total, you should plan to stay in Ukraine for 14 days because you will need to attend follow-up checkups and your doctor may want you to get more treatment based on your pathology report.

What's the Recovery Time?

The recovery period depends on the type of mastectomy you undergo. The total recovery time may take about 4 to 6 weeks. However, you will be able to get back to work within 2 to 3 weeks (if your job does not involve a lot of physical activities).

What About Aftercare?

Your surgeon will give you detailed aftercare instructions, which may include a diet plan, signs of infection to recognize, use of medicines, any restrictions, and caring for the surgical wounds. Your doctor may also recommend that you do some arm exercises to encourage a full range of movement back to the area around the arm.

You should also schedule regular checkups to ensure cancer has not come back. You can choose to have the checkups with your local doctor of the doctor in Ukraine. Furthermore, if your pathology result shows that you will need more treatment, your surgeon may refer you to a radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist, or a counselor.

What's the Success Rate?

The survival rate for breast cancer patients may increase significantly after a mastectomy. A study revealed that 81.2% of women who had double mastectomy survived more than 10 years. In some cases, recurrence can occur, resulting in malignancy. This decreases the success rate of the procedure. Mastectomy done to treat gynecomastia is recorded to have a 90% success rate.

Like other surgical procedures, mastectomy carries a risk of complications. The risks you need to be aware of are pain, bleeding, infection, numbness, stiffness and shoulder pain, scar tissue, hematoma, and swelling in your arm.

Are there Alternatives to Mastectomy?

The alternative to mastectomy are as follows:

Lumpectomy involves removing the tumor and some surrounding tissue from the breast. It is also known as “breast preservation” surgery because most parts of the breast are left in place. It is ideal for patients with early-stage cancer.
Radiation therapy uses ionizing radiations to kill malignant cells that cause breast cancer. It damages the cell DNA to stop the cell division and metastasis. This therapy is mostly used for localized cancer.
Immunotherapy works by stimulating your immune system to fight cancer cells.

About Ukraine

Ukraine is an affordable country – possibly the best reason why you should visit. In fact, the capital Kiev is considered as one of the cheapest among the European capitals. Accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, food, and drinks are all budget-friendly, and you get so much out of your experience.

Ukraine welcomes an ever-increasing number of medical tourists each year, many of which travel for Mastectomy procedures. Private dentistry, cosmetic surgery, and other medical treatments are all offered at significant savings compared to your own country, with almost no waiting lists. In particular, Ukraine is becoming well known as a specialist Centre for laser eye surgery.

Popular Parts of Ukraine

With a population of around 42.5 million, Ukraine is a big and diverse country and is also the largest country entirely within Europe. The abundant forests give the impression that the country seems undiscovered. Amazing landscape, handsome architecture, hospitable hosts, and outlandish supernatural beliefs make Ukraine a captivating destination.

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine. It is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, dating back to the 5th century. The city is steeped in history with cathedrals and golden churches. Kiev is now embodied by urban art and cafes.
Lviv is a picturesque city full of charming art nouveau architecture and interiors, cozy cafes, and squares and is known as the city of art. Lviv’s historic center is listed in UNESCO World Heritage.
Carpathian Mountain is the gem of Ukraine. This territory is brimming with natural beauty. Tourists are attracted by its thick forests, meadows, rural shepherds, and of course the incredible mountain lakes. There are many outdoor activities that tourists can do such as hiking, riding, skiing, and cycling.
Odesa is the perfect summer getaway. It’s known for an affordable summer destination, with wide sandy beaches. The city is also home to the biggest harbor on the Black Sea. Odesa is famous for its Potemkin Steps and fantastic buildings.
Ivano-Frankivsk is sometimes called “little Lviv.” With its beautiful architecture and sophisticated restaurants, exploring Ivano-Frankivsk is an amazing experience. For many people, the city is the base for exploring the Carpathian Mountains.

Note that the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to Crimea, Donetsk, and Lugansk region. Tourists need to check with their relevant government.

Weather and Climate in Ukraine

Ukraine has a temperate climate with the exception of the southern coast of Crimea which has a subtropical climate.

Summers in Ukraine starts from June and last until September with the average temperature ranging between 19 – 25 °C. The days are warm, sunny, and long with only occasional rain showers. Summers are the busiest time for tourism.
Spring and autumn have mild temperature and is when Ukraine receives the maximum amount of rainfall. In spring everything is in blossom so the cities are very colorful.
Winters are cold and snowy, especially in the northeast area. The average temperature is around 5 to -3 °C.

Getting Around in Ukraine

Boryspil International Airport is the largest airport in Ukraine. Located 29km east of Kyiv, the airport serves domestic flights and has international connections with major cities in Europe and a few cities in Asia. Boryspil International Airport is the hub for Ukraine International Airlines and serves several budget airlines including Lauda, Ryanair, and SkyUp airlines. There are two other airports that serve international and domestic flights: Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport and Odessa International Airport.

Tourists can take a taxi, bus, or shuttle bus to get to the city center. Airport taxis use meters and are comfortable. Some taxis even accept payment by credit cards. Buses are also a great option to get to the city center, Sky Bus takes tourists from Boryspil International Airport to Kyiv and departs from Terminal D and Terminal B. Sky Bus should cost around 60 UAH or 100 UAH depending on the destination.

To visit different cities, domestic flights are inexpensive and will speed up long distance journeys. The fastest way to get around big cities is the minibusses or subway (known as Metro). Minibusses follow routes that the regular bus travels on. Tourists can flag minibusses and ask them to stop at other places that are not the specified bus stops. The fare is fixed no matter how far your destination is.

Taxis are easily available in big cities. Most taxis don’t use a meter but taxi drivers usually don’t cheat. A long trip in Kyiv usually cost around 70 UAH. Shortstops start from 15 to 20 UAH. Tourists can also order a taxi by phone, although most taxi operators do not speak English. Locals usually are happy to help order a taxi for tourists.

Driving in Ukraine by car or motorcycle is another option to explore the country, but the roads are bad and the signs are written in Ukrainian (Cyrillic alphabet) only. Road policeman is one of the biggest disadvantages as they usually request a small bribe when they stop tourists.

Tourist Visas in Ukraine

Citizens of the European Union, Canada, the United States, and several other nations can stay in Ukraine without visas for up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries (including China, India, and Thailand) need to apply and obtain a visa before entering the country. It is best to check beforehand on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine’s website for visa requirements and details.

Some visa-on-arrival arrangements are available for tourists at major airports and seaports. e-Visa is also available for 52 specified countries. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from Ukraine and have at least 2 pages free from any visas/marks/stamps.

Additional Information

Local Currency: the official currency of Ukraine is the hryvnia (UAH). 1 USD is equivalent to 28 UAH.
Money & Payments: ATMs are available even in small towns. Currency exchange points are very common in cities. Most shops and restaurants accept credit cards but many places are cash only. Tipping in Ukraine is common, but not obligatory.
Local Language: Ukrainian is the official language. Romanian, Polish, Hungarian, Belarusian, and Russian are widely spoken. Ukrainians either speak native Ukrainian or Russian. Most people in tourist areas speak English very well.
Local Culture and Religion: religion in Ukraine is very diverse with most of the population following Orthodox Christianity. Judaism, Buddhism, Paganism, and Hinduism are in the minority.
Public Holidays: Ukraine celebrates major Orthodox holy days as well as Victory Day, Constitution Day, and Independence Day. If a festive or non-working day falls on Saturday and Sunday, the holiday will be postponed to the next working day.

Mastectomy in Ukraine

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