Welcome to our Healthcare Highlights interview with Dr. Omar Felix, MBBS, DM, FACS, FSSO, General Surgeon, Breast Surgical Oncologist, and Oncoplastic Surgeon at Doctors Hospital.
What should we know about your medical expertise and experience?
I attended medical school at the University of the West Indies. I completed my surgical training in New York at Columbia and SUNY Downstate and at the University of the West Indies. I then did a sub-specialty fellowship in Breast Surgical Oncology and Oncoplastic Breast Surgery at the University of Toronto.
What new technologies or techniques do you use?
Breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer is very important for maintaining body image in survivors of breast cancer. One new technology that facilitates this, is a new localization technology called MOLLI™, which I have brought back to the Cayman Islands. It is now available at Doctors Hospital.
Tell us more about the MOLLI™ procedure?
MOLLI™ is a new device that is used to localize non-palpable breast lesions. It is a very small magnet (smaller than the size of a sesame seed) that is inserted into the lesion in the breast. A special probe is used to identify the MOLLI™ marker during surgery and guide the surgeon to resect the breast lesion.
Why will it benefit breast cancer patients?
It is very simple and virtually painless to insert and can be done conveniently up to 30 days before surgery so there are no scheduling issues. It is very accurate and it facilitates breast-conserving surgery while allowing for cosmetically aesthetic incisions.
What is your medical opinion on Lumpectomy vs Mastectomy and what should our breast cancer patients consider?
Lumpectomy followed by radiation has been shown by multiple clinical trials to be equivalent to mastectomy in terms of recurrence and survival. Breast cancer can take many forms and is quite different in each patient, so lumpectomy may not be suitable for a particular situation and mastectomy may be the best option for that patient. In those cases, breast reconstruction may be an option and this may be done with implants or the patient’s own tissue from the abdomen, back or buttocks. Alternatively, the patient may choose to have no reconstruction and have an aesthetically flat closure. So it is of the utmost importance that the patient is informed of all the options available and is thus able to make the best possible decision.
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I’m a sports enthusiast and I have played essentially every sport, but I most recently learned to ski and have become an avid skier.