Mastectomy is removal of the breast along with other surrounding affected tissue. A simple mastectomy involves removing the breast along with an ellipse of skin that encompasses the nipple-areola complex. Unlike a radical mastectomy, it does not involve removal of the underlying muscles and uninvolved lymph nodes.
All mastectomies remove the whole breast. However, the amount of surrounding tissue removed during surgery varies due to the size and location of tumors and where the cancer might have spread differ from one person to another.
Three types of mastectomy procedures include:
- Total or simple mastectomy removes of the whole breast.
- Modified radical mastectomy removes the whole breast and the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary lymph nodes).
- Radical mastectomy removes the breast, chest muscles, and all of the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary lymph node dissection). This surgery is not as common.
A modified radical mastectomy is recommend for men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Some women who under go a mastectomy may be able to save some of the skin including the nipple. Skin-sparing mastectomy leaves most of the skin that was over the breast, except for the nipple and the areola. Nipple-sparing mastectomy saves the skin over the breast as well as the nipple and areola.
Some women choose to have breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Reconstruction can be done during the same surgery as the mastectomy, or it may be done later as a separate procedure.
In addition to surgery, you may have radiation therapy, chemotherapy,hormone therapy, or a combination of these treatments.
After your mastectomy, you will be taken to a recovery room. A nurse will be able to help with pain management and any other symptoms you are experiencing like nausea, or anxiety.
Most patients return home the day of the surgery, but depending upon your recovery, you may stay in the hospital for up to a few days. If you have breast reconstruction during the same surgery, you will stay in the hospital for several days.Your doctor or nurse will give you post-op instructions including pain management.
Preventing infection is usually an emphasis of the post-op instructions. Post-surgical factors depend on the size and location of the tumor removed, the general health of the woman, and the preferences of the patient and your oncological surgeon.
Depending upon your post-surgical factors your surgeon may recommend you from attempting to lift anything over five pounds for the first several days following surgery. Other physical activities may also be discouraged. Your surgeon usually recommends that you continuously wear a bra that fits well for about a full week after surgery. Some patients may have drainage tubes inserted into the armpit that collect blood and other fluid during the initial healing process.
Most patients are able to get back to normal activity within a few days. But be sure to wait for your doctor to tell you when you can start with more strenuous physical activity. This will depend on the extent of the surgery and on other treatment you might be having.
Mastectomy is a way of treating breast cancer by removing the entire breast through surgery.
The recurrence rate of breast cancer in women who receive a mastectomy is low. The results of a mastectomy largely depend on the stage of cancer, genetic testing, location, size, and type of lump found.
Complications can include infection, bleeding, poor wound healing, or a reaction to the anesthesia used in surgery. Blood or clear fluid may also collect in the wound and need to be drained. You may have breast pain and feelings of pulling, pinching, tingling, or numbness.
If you have lymph nodes removed from under your arm, there is a chance of getting lymphedema (swelling of the arm). This is because fluid is less able to drain out of the tissues through the lymph system after this procedure. Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have swelling or pain in your arm on the side where you had your surgery. The nerve that controls skin sensation on the inner upper arm also is in the area of these lymph nodes. If the nerve is damaged during surgery, you may have numbness in this area.
What Is Mastectomy? – Breastcancer.org
www.breastcancer.org › Treatment & Side Effects › Surgery › Mastectomy
Types of Mastectomy: Partial, Preventive, Radical – WebMD
www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/mastectomy
What to Expect During a Mastectomy Surgery | Susan G. Komen®
ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Mastectomy.html
Mastectomy – The Procedure | Susan G. Komen®
ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/MastectomyTheSurgicalProcedure.html
Mastectomy – American Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/surgery…/mastectomy.html
Mastectomy | Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library
www.hopkinsmedicine.org › Health Library
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www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mastectomy/basics/definition/prc-20012749