Breast Cancer Surgery
Like all breast cancer treatments, breast cancer surgery is not a one size fits all treatment option. There are different types of surgeries available that are effective for different types of breast cancers and for different patients. radiation.
Surgery Options
Women who are diagnosed with early stage breast cancer have more options than women who have advanced stage breast cancer. Women with advanced breast cancer that has spread throughout the breast may require a mastectomy that removes the entire breast. A mastectomy is usually followed with another surgery called a reconstructive surgery at a later date.
Women with early stage breast cancer may not require a mastectomy. Instead, their doctors may advise them that a lumpectomy that removes the cancerous area, followed by other nonsurgical treatments, may be just as effective as a mastectomy.
Mastectomy and Reconstruction Surgeries
There are different types of mastectomies, however all mastectomies remove the entire breast. In a simple mastectomy, the breast is removed and some lymph nodes under the arm may also be removed. In a modified radical mastectomy, the doctor removes the breast, many lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over the chest muscles and in some cases a small chest muscle.
Some patients require double mastectomies. This is the total removal of both breasts. Some doctors will recommend this even if the cancer is only in one breast because the doctor believes that there is a very high probability that the patient will develop cancer in the other breast.
Often, mastectomies are followed by reconstructive surgeries. These are conducted by plastic surgeons and result in a breast and nipple like replacement on your body. This can be achieved through implants or skin flap surgeries. Implants are simpler surgery but often will need to be replaced during a patient's lifetime. Skin flap surgery is a major surgery and has all of the risks associated with a major surgery.
Reconstructive surgery is purely for cosmetic purposes. Some women chose to wear prosthetics instead to avoid additional surgeries and medical procedures.
Lumpectomy
A lumpectomy is often called a breast sparing surgery because only the cancerous portion of the breast and the tissue immediately surrounding the cancer are removed from the body.
The biggest benefit to lumpectomy is that the patient gets to keep her breast and does not need reconstructive surgery. However, most patients do need follow up treatment in the form of radiation, chemotherapy or hormone therapy to make sure that all of the cancer has been destroyed or removed and that it doesn't recur.
There are a lot of options available in breast cancer treatment. This is to the benefit of each individual patient who can make the decisions that best meet her treatment goals with her doctors. Surgery is one option that has produced good results that allow many women to go into remission and live long cancer free lives. Therefore, it is an option that should be fully explored with your oncologist.