Breast Surgery:

Breast surgery is an important first step in the battle against breast cancer. Breast cancer surgery has become ever safer and more effective and with appropriate and constantly improving treatments, the breast cancer survival rate is climbing. New and improved detection techniques have also allowed doctors to find cancerous tumors sooner, further improving chances of survivability.

When considering breast surgery, deciding what procedure to undergo depends on the aggressiveness of the cancer as well as what you and your surgeon think is the best course of action. Generally speaking, patients have to decide between a lumpectomy, which removes only the tumor and some surrounding tissue and a mastectomy, which removes the breast tissue in its entirety.

Mastectomy:
There are many types of mastectomy, each with slightly different purposes. Most commonly performed is a simple or total mastectomy, when breast tissue is removed, but the lymph nodes under the arms are spared. A radical mastectomy removes the entire breast, the lymph nodes and the chest muscle wall under the breast. A modified radical mastectomy leaves the chest muscle wall, but removes the breast and lymph nodes under the arm.

Partial mastectomies, where only part of the breast is removed and subcutaneous mastectomies, where the breast tissue is removed beneath the skin, leaving the nipple intact are two other possible surgical options.

Women who have breast cancer in their families and are concerned about facing breast cancer in the future, may opt to have a prophylactic mastectomy that removes the breast preemptively to avoid the possibility of cancer. Again deciding to undergo this procedure is a personal choice.

Lumpectomy:
Technically, a lumpectomy is a less invasive form of partial mastectomy. It removes the cancerous tumor and some healthy tissue around it in order to reduce the possibility of the cancer spreading. Cosmetically speaking, the lumpectomy yields excellent results, however in more invasive lumpectomies, the breast can look oddly sized in which case a patient may consider reconstruction.

Which Do I Choose?
Not all cases of breast cancer give the patient a choice. For example, if there are multiple tumor sites, or if the tumor is relatively large, a lumpectomy may not be appropriate. The decision to undergo a lumpectomy with radiation versus a mastectomy is a highly personal one, which should take into account the benefits and risks of each. For example, while a lumpectomy will spare most of the breast, the mastectomy removes any and all breast tissue that could in future develop cancerous cells.

Breast Reconstruction:
After a partial mastectomy or particularly invasive lumpectomy, breast cancer surgery patients have the option to undergo a breast reconstruction procedure, which rebuilds the breast to bring it back to its former shape and fullness. Consider the possibility of breast reconstruction surgery now and once you have healed from your primary surgery, speak to your surgeon regarding your options.