Surgery for Breast Cancer

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SURGERY FOR BREAST CANCER

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Written by : Dr.M.D.Mazumdar, MD

Surgery is usually the first line of treatment in breast cancer. Different types of surgery are carried out depending on the :

  • The size and location of the tumor.
  • The type of breast cancer
  • Whether it is still within the breast or has spread out to the surrounding tissues.
  • The woman's personal choice is also important to a certain degree.

Different Types of Breast Cancer Surgery

Breast Cancer Surgery may be Conservative or Radical -

  • Conservative Breast Cancer Surgery In this type of surgery, only the tumor or a part of the breast is removed. The rest of the breast is conserved. There are two types of conservative breast surgery.

    • Lumpectomy A lumpectomy is the removal of the breast cancer and a portion of normal tissue around the breast cancer lump. Some of the nearby lymph nodes may also be removed if thee surgeon deems it necessary. Lumpectomy is usually followed by radiotherapy, to ensure that all the cancer cells are dead.

    • Partial Mastectomy Also known as Segmental mastectomy, the surgeon, in this operation, removes a larger amount of breast tissue around the tumor, maybe even 1/4th of it. He/she may also remove the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor and some of the lymph nodes under the arm.

    Lumpectomy of the Breast

  • Non-Conservative Breast Cancer Surgery Removal of the whole breast is a non-conservative surgery and is known as mastectomy. They may or may not be followed by radiotherapy. There are three types of mastectomies.

Mastectomy of the Breast

  • Total (Simple) Mastectomy During a total (or simple) mastectomy, the entire breast (including the nipple, the areola, and most of the overlying skin) and also some of the lymph nodes under the arm,(called the axillary lymph glands) are removed.

  • Modified Radical Mastectomy This is a type of radical mastectomy in which the entire breast (including the nipple, the areola, and the overlying skin), some of the lymph nodes under the arm (also called the axillary lymph glands), and the lining over the chest muscles are removed. Depending on the size and location of the tumor, part of the chest wall muscles may also be removed.

  • Radical Mastectomy This was the standard operation in earlier years. But now, with better diagnostic procedures and better drugs available, it ia rarely done unless the cancer has spread to the underlying chest muscles. In radical mastectomy, the entire breast (including the nipple, the areola, and the overlying skin), the lymph nodes under the arm, also called the axillary lymph glands, and the chest muscles are removed.

  • Prophylactic Mastectomy This is a type of mastectomy in which one or both the breasts are removed to prevent the development of cancer in future. It may be done in women who are at high risk for cancer.

    See Page 2 for:

  • Lumpectomy:Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Mastectomy:Advantages and Disadvantages



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