A breast cancer diagnosis brings many questions, especially about treatment. Your care team typically includes a breast cancer surgeon, a specialist who performs operations to remove cancerous tissue. This surgeon collaborates with you and other healthcare professionals to develop a personalized surgical plan tailored to your needs. Here are some of the surgical options for breast cancer treatment:
Getting a Lumpectomy
A lumpectomy is a surgical procedure designed to remove the tumor and a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue from the breast. This operation is often known as breast-conserving surgery because it leaves most of the breast in place. This approach is suitable when the tumor is small and localized to a specific area of the breast. The goal of a lumpectomy is to remove all visible cancer while preserving the natural appearance and shape of your breast. Following a lumpectomy, radiation therapy is commonly recommended to lower the risk of cancer returning. Combining treatments provides a comprehensive approach, with surgery physically removing the cancer and radiation targeting any remaining cancer cells in the area.
Scheduling a Mastectomy
A mastectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the entire breast. The reasons a breast cancer surgeon recommends a mastectomy depend on factors such as tumor size, multiple tumors in one breast, or inherited genetic mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2. There are several different types of mastectomy procedures. A total mastectomy removes the breast tissue, nipple, areola, and much of the skin. Other types, like skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy, retain as much of the healthy tissue as possible to support future reconstructive surgery.
Some people select a mastectomy because they feel more secure knowing that the entire breast tissue has been removed. Others may be advised to have a mastectomy because of the presence of cancer in multiple areas of the breast. Patients at higher genetic risk of breast cancer may choose a preventative mastectomy.
If you have a mastectomy, breast reconstruction may be an option to rebuild the shape of your breast. Your surgical team will discuss various reconstructive procedures. These might take place during the same operation as your mastectomy or at a later time.
Choosing Lymph Node Removal
During surgical treatment for breast cancer, your surgeon may need to check the lymph nodes under your arm to determine whether cancer has spread beyond the breast itself. This information helps plan additional treatment if necessary. Two surgical techniques for examining lymph nodes include:
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy: This is a less invasive technique that involves identifying and removing the first one to three lymph nodes that drain fluid from the tumor area, since cancer cells are likely to spread here first. If cancer is not found in these nodes, no further lymph nodes need to be removed.
- Axillary lymph node dissection: This removes a larger group of lymph nodes from the armpit area. The approach is used to assess how far the cancer has spread and to plan future treatment.
Visit a Breast Cancer Surgeon
Learning about your surgical options is a key part of making informed decisions about your care. A breast cancer surgeon provides guidance and information, giving you the support you need throughout your treatment journey. Clear explanations of procedures, potential complications, and recovery expectations should be provided during every consultation. To review your options and receive a personalized surgical plan, schedule a consultation with a breast cancer surgeon today.
