MAKHACHKALA, August 14 – RIA "Dagestan". The Republican Oncology Center of Dagestan has nearly doubled its volume of high-tech operations over the past year, Acting Chief Physician Nutsalkhan Gasanov announced during a live broadcast in the Regional Management Center.
The surge stems from participation in the national "Healthcare" project, which brought new endoscopic and laser equipment, advanced training for surgeons at top Russian clinics and the rollout of in-house innovations. Early detection has been equally crucial: mammography and screening now catch tumors at stages when organ-preserving treatment works best.
Breast cancer care has undergone a fundamental shift — from full organ removal to organ-preserving and minimally invasive methods. In the past, mastectomy included removal of all axillary lymph nodes (lymph node dissection), often causing chronic arm swelling and limited mobility. Now, doctors use the "sentinel lymph node" technique, removing only the first one or two nodes. If they are cancer-free, the rest are left intact, dramatically improving post-operative quality of life.
Full breast removal is also increasingly giving way to operations that excise only the tumor with a small margin of healthy tissue — preserving both life and a natural appearance, which is vital for patients' mental health.
"The number of organ-preserving surgeries and minimally invasive technologies has grown. This includes laparoscopy and photodynamic therapy" - Gasanov said.
He noted that hundreds of patients have already avoided severe complications. Many once had to travel to Moscow or Rostov-on-Don for such care; today, it is available in Dagestan. The earlier the check-up, the better the odds of an organ-preserving operation. Doctors advise women over 40 to get mammograms every two years — and annually if hereditary factors exist.