Breast Cancer Surgery

Who Gets A Breast Cancer Surgery?

Breast cancer surgery to remove the tumor is often the best treatment for breast cancer.

Nowadays, women have several surgery options and choices. The type of breast surgery that is performed on a patient depends upon the location and size of the tumor, the stage of the cancer, the size of the breast and last, but not least, the his or her own preference.

There are several breast cancer surgery options. Some involve the conservation of the breast, while others remove the entire breast. A doctor can explain the advantages and disadvantages of each option for a certain patient.

Breast Conservation Surgery

There are two basic types of breast cancer surgery options that allow the conservation of the breast tissue: lumpectomy and partial mastectomy.

Lumpectomy

A lumpectomy involves the removal of the cancerous tumor and part of the tissue around it. Some surgeons also remove underarm lymph nodes to check whether the cancer has spread outside the breast as well.

These lymph nodes, also called axillary nodes, receive lymphatic vessels from the neck, upper arm, most of the breast and underarm areas. Breast cancer often spreads to axillary lymph nodes, thus entering the lymphatic system and spreading further to other organs and tissues.

Radiation therapy may be used after the lumpectomy to kill remaining cancer cells from other parts of the body.

Partial Mastectomy

This breast cancer surgery option involves removing the tumor, as well as a larger area of the surrounding tissue. Some surgeons also remove part of the chest muscles underneath the tumor and some axillary lymph nodes.

As in lumpectomy, lymph nodes are removed to determine whether the cancer has spread outside the breast.

Mastectomy

Mastectomy is a breast cancer surgery option that does not conserve any of the breast tissue, involving the removal of the whole breast. Sometimes, breast conservation is not possible.

A mastectomy is recommended in several situations, such as:

• when the cancer has affected other parts of the breast as well or the axillary lymph nodes
• when the woman has very small breasts and breast conservation surgery would result in a deformed breast

There are several types of mastectomy and a physician should be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages for each:

• Total mastectomy - the removal of the entire breast along with some of the axillary lymph nodes 
• modified radical mastectomy - the removal of the whole breast, some of the underarm lymph nodes and part of the chest muscles 
• radical mastectomy - the removal of the whole breast, as well as all underarm lymph nodes and chest muscles

Radical mastectomy is performed only rarely, in severe cases, when the cancer has spread to chest muscles as well. In early stages, lumpectomy is usually the first option, along with other non-surgical procedures.

When the disease is discovered early, there is a much better chance for a less radical and more effective breast cancer surgery to cure it.