BREAST CANCER SURGERY

Types of Breast Cancer Surgery?

The types of breast cancer surgery differ in the amount of tissue that is removed with the tumor, depending on the tumor's characteristics, whether it has spread (metastasized), and your personal feelings. The surgeon often removes some lymph nodes under the arm as part of the operation, so they can be tested for the presence of cancer cells. This will help your doctor plan your treatment after surgery.

The surgeon will discuss your options with you before surgery. A specific surgical procedure may be recommended for you based on the size, location, or type of breast cancer you have. Some of the procedures you may discuss with your doctor include:

Lumpectomy for Breast Cancer

This is also referred to as breast-conserving therapy. The surgeon removes the cancerous area and a surrounding margin of normal tissue. A second incision may be made in order to remove the lymph nodes. This treatment aims to maintain a normal breast appearance when the surgery is over.

After the lumpectomy, a five- to eight-week course of radiation therapy is often used to treat the remaining breast tissue. The majority of women who have small, early-stage breast cancers are excellent candidates for this treatment approach.

Women who are not usually eligible for a lumpectomy include those who have already had radiation therapy to the affected breast, have two or more areas of cancer in the same breast that are too far apart to be removed through one incision, or have cancer that was not completely removed during the lumpectomy surgery.

Partial or Segmental Mastectomy or Quadrantectomy

During a partial or segmental mastectomy or quadrantectomy, the surgeon removes more breast tissue than with a lumpectomy. The cancerous area and a surrounding margin of normal tissue are removed, and radiation therapy is usually given after surgery for six to eight weeks.

Simple or Total Mastectomy

With a simple or total mastectomy, the entire breast is removed, but no lymph nodes are removed in this procedure. Simple mastectomy is most frequently used for further cancer prevention or when the cancer does not go to the lymph nodes.

Modified Radical Mastectomy

The surgeon removes all of the breast tissue along with the nipple in a modified radical mastectomy. Lymph nodes in the armpit are also removed. The chest muscles are left intact. For many patients, mastectomy is accompanied by either an immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. This can be done quite effectively using either breast implants or the patient's own tissue -- usually from the lower abdomen.

Breast Cancer and Radical Mastectomy

When a radical mastectomy is used to treat breast cancer, the surgeon removes all of the breast tissue along with the nipple, lymph nodes in the armpit, and chest wall muscles under the breast. This procedure is rarely performed today because modified radical mastectomy has proved to be as effective, and is less disfiguring.

You may be asked to give blood before breast cancer surgery, in case a transfusion becomes necessary.

You should thoroughly discuss these surgical options with your physician to achieve the best outcome. Whichever type of surgery is your best option, you will be able to return home after a short stay in the hospital.

How Long Will I Be In the Hospital for Breast Cancer Surgery?

The length of stay in the hospital varies depending on the type of breast cancer surgery performed. Generally, lumpectomies are done on an outpatient basis, with the patient recovering in a short-stay observation unit after the procedure.

Mastectomies or lymph node removal surgery usually require a one- to two-night stay in the hospital.