Mastectomy surgery is to remove breast tissue. Sometimes, other tissues around the breast, like lymph nodes, are also removed. The procedure is typically performed to fight breast cancer. In some instances, the process is carried out to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer for women with high chances of getting it.
Mastectomy • The Breast Reconstruction Background
A mastectomy involves the removal of the breasts, neck or areola to fight breast cancer. This video reviews the various kinds of mastectomy procedures that are available.
What are the reasons I might need an operation on my breasts?
A mastectomy can be performed in conjunction with treatment for breast cancer.
Your doctor may recommend an operation to remove the mastoid if:
- The tumor is quite large.
- Cancer covers more than one region of your breast
- The use of radiation treatment is not recommended.
Your breast’s size can determine the kind of mastectomy to be performed.
In some instances, women with an increased risk of developing breast cancer might want to undergo a mastectomy before the tumor grows. This is especially true for women with genetics linked to breast cancer, like those with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. It is recommended to undergo a mastectomy to stop breast cancer from developing in these instances.
There are other possible reasons why your doctor might suggest an operation to remove the mast.
Different types of mastectomy procedures
There is a variety that can be performed for mastectomy:
- Total (simple) mastectomy (simple). This procedure removes the entire breast, including the nipple, the colored ring surrounding the nipple (called an areola), and the skin’s bulk.
- Modified radical mastectomy. The breasts are entirely removed. It includes the breast nipple and the areola, the overlying skin, and the lining that covers your chest muscles. A few lymph nodes in the arm are removed as well. Breast cancer is often spread through those lymph nodes. The tumor can expand to other areas in the body. In some instances, a portion of the chest muscle may be removed.
- Radial mastectomy. The breast is completely removed, including the nipple and the areola, overlying skin, the lymph nodes underneath the arm, and the chest muscles beneath the breast. For a long time, this was the most common procedure. Today, it’s not commonly performed. It can be recommended if the breast cancer has spread to chest muscles.
The latest mastectomy methods might provide more surgical options. But further research is required to determine if these techniques are compelling enough to eliminate breast cancer and stop it from recurring or recurring following treatment. Modern methods include:
- Skin-sparing mastectomy. It removes breast tissues, including the nipple and areola are taken out. But the skin on the breasts is left. This type of surgery appears to be as effective in the same way as radical mastectomy. It is performed only for breast reconstruction immediately after mastectomy. It is not the best option to treat large or close to skin surface tumors.
- Nipple-sparing mastectomy. It is similar to skin-sparing mastectomy. Sometimes, it’s referred to as an all-skin-sparing mastectomy. The entire breast tissue is removed, including the ducts to the nipple and the areola. The skins of the nipple, as well as the areola, are protected. The tissues surrounding the nipple and the areola can be carefully removed and examined by a doctor known as a pathologist. If no cancerous breast cells are detected near the nipple or areola, the areas could be preserved. In other cases, this procedure is not recommended. Reconstruction takes place just after the mastectomy.
Breast reconstruction surgery following mastectomy
There are many questions about how your breasts appear following having a mastectomy. In most cases, breast reconstruction surgery can be carried out. The surgery reconstructs your breasts to be identical to the size and shape of the other breast. Many women undergo breast reconstruction performed in conjunction with a mastectomy operation. Some women wait to opt to have it done in a subsequent surgery.
Consult your doctor about your options for reconstructive surgery. Other options following mastectomy are wearing the Breast shape (breast prosthesis) or a mastectomy-specific bra.
