Surgery is an Art, and the Surgeon is an Artist
Surgery is an Art, and the Surgeon is an Artist
SURGERY IS AN ART, AND THE SURGEON IS AN ARTIST
Yes, this has been my motto in my surgical life. I'm not just talking about this motto in terms of manual and technical skills. Understanding the patient first, being able to feel like him/her as much as possible, and being able to predict the question marks in his mind even before he tells you, are all parts of this art.
Regardless of the geography they live in, no person will undergo surgery to a surgeon they do not trust.
HEALING THE PATIENT, NOT THE DISEASE
Here is the starting point of the art I am talking about. It's a rule that fits especially well with breast surgery, which is my specialty. You can completely remove the breast of a patient with breast cancer and cure the disease; However, the real art is to treat breast cancer while the patient's breast remains in place and even looks more beautiful than before.
While talking about all these treatments with our patients; We need to put the blame on ourselves. Sometimes we doctors forget that our profession is about human communication.
Our patients are not just damaged organs. Each patient is also an individual with a spiritual and social life. When I tell them about their illness, especially when I am explaining and giving information about cancer like me, their perception may be closed, they may not listen to what you say, they think about other things. That is why I first make my patients feel that I understand them, and then explain their treatment in detail. Because I believe that there is a language that every person can understand.
In this case, the following words of a very valuable professional of mine, the teacher of professors at Çapa Faculty of Medicine, always come to my mind: “Friends, at five o'clock in the evening that day, you may be telling the same things to the hundredth patient, perhaps for the 500th time, but never forget that this is the first time.” “He listens.”
WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS RELATED TO YOUR PROFESSION?
I am primarily interested in breast, thyroid (goiter) and skin cancer surgery. I perform oncoplastic surgery, which allows women with breast cancer to be treated without causing breast loss, and breast reduction surgeries for patients with macromastia (large breast) disease. In other words, all stages of diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases are my area of special interest.
HOW IS YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE SURGERY?
Dealing with surgeries and my patients actually takes up most of my day. Frankly, I am trying to make the most of all the time I have left. I love spending time with my wife and daughter, especially seeing new places and meeting people from new cultures. In all our travels, I can't feel comfortable without studying the places I want to visit before going and seeing all the places on my list. Frankly, taking care of my record and comic book collection and riding a bike makes me very comfortable.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES YOU ARE INVOLVED IN?
People who have knowledge are obliged to help other people benefit from it. I am very sorry that in 2018, there are still patients with breast cancer who come with open, flowing wounds. That's why I've been giving conferences about breast cancer to the public in all neighborhoods and districts for 13 years, and I also give about 60-70 conferences a year in vocational high schools and large industrial facilities in Bursa. One of the projects that I enjoyed most was working as a faculty member at Bandırma Health School. One of my greatest joys is that my students who graduated from Bandırma and are working as nurses in various parts of Turkey call me and come to visit me.
We also created a workshop group with a group of patients with late-stage breast cancer. Here, people see that they are not alone and that their illnesses do not prevent them from existing in life. Thanks to the meetings held, we had many breast cancer patients who went to work while sitting at home, graduated from secondary school and took the university exam.
ONE LAST MESSAGE...
As someone who tells almost everyone I see about breast cancer and the treatment that results in more beautiful breasts without breast loss, I no longer want to see women coming with wounds on their breasts. That's why I want every woman to spare a day for herself every 6 months and have her tests done. They should not forget that nothing will happen to a smart woman (who gets her tests done) from breast cancer.