Mayapada Hospital highlights the importance of comprehensive post-mastectomy care, combining advanced cancer treatment, personalised recovery plans, and compassionate patient support to help breast cancer survivors regain confidence.
For breast cancer survivors, the recovery journey following a mastectomy is about far more than the outcome of surgery. It is also an emotional journey towards feeling whole, comfortable, and confident again after cancer. Throughout this challenging process, the support of a Patient Navigator plays a vital role for both patients and their families by helping them understand each stage of treatment, coordinating medical care, and providing guidance throughout recovery.
This is also a key focus for dr. Dharmayanti Francisca Badudu, Sp.B(K) Onk, of Mayapada Hospital Bandung. According to her, a mastectomy is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a patient’s adaptation to physical and emotional changes, as well as the process of restoring quality of life and regaining confidence in everyday activities. During this phase, Patient Navigators provide compassionate, human-centred care, ensuring patients feel supported and never alone throughout their recovery.
Post-operative care is essential, as patients continue to undergo a series of recovery stages. During the first few weeks after surgery, the primary focus is on fundamental physical recovery, including wound healing, pain management, and restoring movement in the arm and shoulder. Alongside systemic medication, regular follow-up assessments are crucial to ensure proper healing while enabling the early detection of any potential complications.
Patients will then undergo a clinical evaluation to determine whether additional treatment is required, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy. “Every treatment decision is personalised according to the type and stage of cancer, tissue pathology results, and each patient’s individual condition,” explained dr. Francisca.
This evaluation requires a high degree of accuracy to assess how effectively treatment has worked within the body. In this regard, dr. Lim Andreas, Sp.KN, of Mayapada Hospital Jakarta Selatan, explained, “In certain cases, advanced nuclear medicine imaging technologies such as PET-CT scans and SPECT-CT scans are used to evaluate treatment response, as well as to detect any new cancer spread or recurrence.”
The accuracy of PET-CT and SPECT-CT imaging has often led patients to seek treatment abroad. Today, however, these advanced diagnostic services are available in Indonesia through the Oncology Centre at Mayapada Hospital, including PET-CT and SPECT-CT imaging provided by the Nuclear Medicine Clinic at Mayapada Hospital Jakarta Selatan (MHJS).
These technologies offer whole-body imaging with sharper image quality, faster examination times, and lower radiation exposure than comparable systems currently available in Indonesia. As fewer than 10 hospitals nationwide offer these facilities, they provide an important alternative for patients who previously needed to travel overseas for similar services.
Beyond medical treatment, post-mastectomy recovery may also involve adapting to physical and psychological changes. As part of this process, some patients choose to undergo breast reconstruction surgery to restore the breast’s natural contour. This procedure can be performed at different stages of treatment and should be discussed with a specialist to determine the most appropriate timing for each individual.
As cancer treatment often involves multiple medical disciplines and ongoing support, integrated healthcare services play an important role in ensuring comprehensive patient care. Mayapada Hospital’s Oncology Centre provides holistic cancer treatment through a patient-centred approach, supported by multidisciplinary specialists working together in a Tumour Board to deliver comprehensive and personalised care. This is complemented by advanced medical technology and the hospital’s commitment to “We Walk Every Journey with C.A.R.E.” (Compassion, Advanced, Responsive, Experts), with Patient Navigators accompanying patients and their families throughout every stage of treatment.
Patients can access comprehensive cancer care at the Oncology Centre at Mayapada Hospital, including consultations with oncology and nuclear medicine specialists regarding PET-CT and SPECT-CT examinations, by calling 150770 or using the MyCare application. In the event of a medical emergency, patients are advised to contact Mayapada Hospital’s emergency services via 150990 or use the Emergency Call Button within the MyCare app.
Health information from Mayapada Hospital’s medical specialists is also available through the Health Articles & Tips feature in the MyCare app. In addition, users can monitor their wellbeing using the Personal Health feature, which tracks heart rate, step count, calories burned, and Body Mass Index (BMI).