Purity N., 17

Purity is a 17-year-old Form Three student at a local day secondary school. She is active, responsible, and well-mannered, earning respect from both her teachers and peers. She has a strong passion for music, particularly gospel songs, and enjoys expressing herself through singing. She aspires to become a successful musician, reflecting her creativity, determination, and desire to inspire others. With her discipline and positive attitude, she has great potential to succeed both academically and artistically. Purity was brought to the health facility with complaints of a painful swelling in the right breast extending to the axillary region. She reported that the swelling had been present for some time but had gradually increased in size and become more painful in recent days. The pain was constant and worsened with movement of the right arm, with no history of trauma or nipple discharge. On examination, she appeared uncomfortable due to pain, though her vital signs were stable. A firm, tender, and poorly mobile mass was noted in the right breast extending into the axilla, with mild warmth and palpable lymph nodes. She was prepared for surgical management.

Purity was brought to the facility with complaints of a painful swelling involving the right breast and axillary region. Local examination of the right breast and axilla revealed a palpable mass extending from the upper outer quadrant of the right breast into the axillary region. The mass was firm, tender, and poorly mobile, with mild overlying skin warmth. There were no obvious skin ulcerations or nipple retraction. Axillary lymph nodes were palpable and tender. The left breast was unremarkable. Based on the clinical findings, a diagnosis of a right breast/axillary mass was made, and the patient was prepared for surgical intervention. She underwent surgery, during which the mass was identified and excised successfully. Hemostasis was achieved, and the procedure was completed without complications. Postoperatively, the patient remained stable, with good pain control and no immediate complications. The surgical site was clean, and healing was satisfactory. She was discharged when stabilized and in good condition.

The prognosis of a phyllodes tumor depends largely on whether it is benign, borderline, or malignant, as determined by histopathological examination. Most phyllodes tumors are benign and have an excellent prognosis following complete surgical excision with clear margins. However, they have a risk of local recurrence, particularly if the tumor is not completely removed. Borderline and malignant phyllodes tumors carry a higher risk of recurrence and, in the case of malignant tumors, a small risk of spreading to distant organs such as the lungs or bones. With appropriate surgical treatment and regular follow-up, many patients achieve good long-term outcomes.