An overview of Breast Cancer Surgery
Breast cancer surgery involves the removal of breast tissue to treat breast cancer. The surgery may be done to remove the entire breast (mastectomy) or a portion of the breast tissue (lumpectomy). The goal of the surgery is to remove cancer cells from the breast. The choice of operation depends on factors such as the size and stage of the cancer, other treatment options, and the patient's goals and preferences. Breast cancer surgery may also include the removal of nearby lymph nodes or reconstruction of the breast after the surgery. Risks associated with the surgery include seroma, pain, scarring, altered sensation, wound healing problems, and arm swelling. Patients should discuss their options with a breast cancer surgeon to understand the best course of treatment for their specific case.
What is Breast Cancer Surgery used for?
Breast cancer surgery is used for various purposes in treating breast cancer. It involves removing the cancer through an operation and may be used alone or in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy. The type of surgery performed depends on factors like the size and stage of the cancer, other treatment options, and the patient's goals and preferences. Breast cancer surgery may include procedures such as mastectomy (removing the entire breast), lumpectomy (removing a portion of breast tissue), and lymph node removal. Additionally, breast reconstruction may be performed after mastectomy. Surgery is usually not used to treat metastatic breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
How to prepare for Breast Cancer Surgery?
Before breast cancer surgery, a series of preparations are necessary to ensure a smooth and safe procedure. Some of these preparations include consulting with a breast cancer surgeon to understand the best approach for the specific case and preferences, undergoing a preoperative assessment to determine any potential risks or complications, stopping certain medications such as blood thinners to minimize the risk of bleeding during the procedure, fasting for a certain period before the surgery to ensure an empty stomach, quitting smoking to reduce the risk of complications and improve the healing process, arranging for support during the recovery period, making necessary arrangements for work, school, and childcare, and following preoperative instructions provided by the healthcare team.
How is Breast Cancer Surgery conducted?
A breast cancer surgery typically involves a procedure to remove the cancerous tissue from the breast. The type of surgery performed will depend on the specific case and may include lumpectomy (removing a portion of the breast tissue) or mastectomy (removing the entire breast). The surgeon will make an incision in the breast, and the extent of the incision will depend on the location of the cancer within the breast. The surgeon may also remove nearby lymph nodes, depending on the specific case. After the surgery, the incision will be closed with dissolvable stitches, and if breast reconstruction is chosen, it may be started at the time of the cancer operation or delayed for a separate surgery.
How are Breast Cancer Surgery results reported?
Breast cancer surgery results are reported through pathology reports. After the surgery, the removed tissue is examined under a microscope by a pathologist to determine the extent of cancer, including whether the cancer has been completely removed (clean margins) or if there are remaining cancer cells (positive margins). This information is crucial for planning further treatment and determining the likelihood of recurrence. Your surgeon will discuss the pathology report with you, explaining the results and their implications for your care.
Understanding the report
Breast cancer surgery results are interpreted by assessing the extent of cancer removal and the success of the procedure. The surgeon evaluates the removed tissue to determine if all cancerous cells have been removed. This is typically done through histopathological examination, which involves analyzing the removed tissue under a microscope to check for the presence of cancerous cells or residual tumor cells.
The results of the surgery also depend on the specific procedure performed. For example, after a lumpectomy, imaging tests such as mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to confirm that all cancerous cells have been removed. In cases where a mastectomy is performed, the pathologist examines the removed breast tissue to determine the size and extent of the tumor, the presence of cancerous lymph nodes, and the overall stage of the cancer.
Further tests, such as blood tests, imaging scans, or additional biopsies, may be ordered to ensure that all cancerous cells have been removed or to guide subsequent treatment decisions.
Overall, the interpretation of breast cancer surgery results is a crucial step in determining the success of the operation and planning the next steps in breast cancer treatment.