In this episode of the Mood Food podcast, hosts Preeti Butani, co-founder of KUBTEC, and Dr. Pramila Vishvanath speak with internationally recognized breast surgeon Dr. Ashutosh Kothari, Clinical Lead of the Academic Breast Cancer Unit at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust in London and director of breast surgery at H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai, one of India's leading cancer care centers. Dr. Kothari talks about his path into breast surgery, inspired by his mother's work as an endocrinologist in breast cancer research, and shares how treating patients as young as 19 with stage four disease reshaped his approach — teaching him that outcomes aren't purely predictable and that a patient's outlook matters alongside the science. He speaks at length about the unique challenges of treating younger women, who are often balancing careers, relationships, and family planning alongside a diagnosis, and about how oncoplastic surgery has evolved to combine oncological safety with preserving body image and confidence.

The conversation moves into the mechanics of shared decision-making — how he slows down consultations, helps patients weigh mastectomy versus breast-conserving surgery based on their long-term goals rather than immediate fear, and uses tools like remote wound-care apps and patient-controlled follow-up scheduling to keep patients out of a purely reactive relationship with the hospital. He details technical advances aimed at reducing repeat surgeries and complications, including margin-mapping techniques, biodegradable implants and fat grafting for reconstruction, AI-driven modeling to preview surgical outcomes, and lymphaticovenous bypass procedures that meaningfully cut lymphedema risk. He also discusses the global disparity in breast cancer care, noting that patients in India often present at much later stages than in the West, and closes with a message of empowerment: breast cancer today is highly treatable, and patients should feel entitled to demand good care, voice their concerns, and expect to reclaim their lives after treatment.