What is a mastectomy?
A mastectomy is surgery to remove a breast. Sometimes other tissues near the breast, such as lymph nodes, are also removed. This surgery is most often used to treat breast cancer. In some cases, a mastectomy is done to help prevent breast cancer in women who have a high risk for it. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
How do I know if I need a mastectomy?
The size of your breast may also help determine the type of mastectomy that is done. In some cases, women with a high risk for breast cancer may want to have a mastectomy before cancer develops. This includes women with genes linked to breast cancer, such as the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
When is a mastectomy done to prevent breast cancer?
In some cases, a mastectomy is done to help prevent breast cancer in women who have a high risk for it. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
What happens after a mastectomy?
If you are having breast reconstruction along with the mastectomy, a plastic surgeon will do the procedure after the mastectomy. Breast tissue and any other tissues that are removed will be sent to the lab for examination. One or more drainage tubes may be placed into the affected area.
Why is radiation recommended after mastectomy?
Radiation after mastectomy Radiation can also be used after mastectomy. In this situation, the radiation can kill any cancer cells that might remain and reduce the risk that the cancer may recur in the remaining tissues of the chest wall or lymph nodes.
Is chemo necessary after mastectomy?
After you have surgery to remove the breast cancer, your doctor may recommend chemotherapy to destroy any undetected cancer cells and reduce your risk of the cancer recurring.
What are the risks of a mastectomy?
The risks for mastectomy are similar to any other type of surgery. Common complications include phantom breast syndrome (the sensation of breast tissue still being present, sometimes with pain), collection of fluid under the skin (seroma), wound infection, skin flap necrosis and pain.
What can you do after a mastectomy?
How can you care for yourself at home?Rest when you feel tired. ... Try to walk each day. ... Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weightlifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. ... Avoid lifting anything over 4.5 to 7 kilograms for 4 to 6 weeks. ... Ask your doctor when you can drive again.More items...
Why do oncologists push chemo?
An oncologist may recommend chemotherapy before and/or after another treatment. For example, in a patient with breast cancer, chemotherapy may be used before surgery, to try to shrink the tumor. The same patient may benefit from chemotherapy after surgery to try to destroy remaining cancer cells.
Do oncologists take chemo?
Among oncologists/hematologists, 64.5% said that they would take chemotherapy, as did 67% of nurses. The two nonmedical administrators both voted no. In the “other” category, which included a mix of radiation oncologists and other types of physicians, 33% said that they would take chemotherapy.
When is mastectomy not recommended?
It depends. For women with metastatic tumors, mastectomy is not recommended, explains Dr. King, but it might be a good choice for early stage tumors that are large or directly behind the nipple.
Why can't you keep your nipples after a mastectomy?
A: Yes, the procedure is generally safe, with the usual risks of having surgery. The specific risks of having nipple-sparing mastectomy include the fact that because we remove all of the tissue behind the nipple — in what we call the nipple core — there can be an interruption of the blood supply to it.
Is mastectomy a high risk surgery?
Like any type of surgery, a mastectomy can have risks and side effects, some of which could affect your quality of life. Because of this, preventive surgery is not usually a good option for women who are at average risk of breast cancer, or for those who are at only slightly increased risk.
What is the best reconstruction after mastectomy?
Inserting a breast implant is the least invasive breast reconstruction procedure. It may not require extra time in the hospital if it can be done at the same time as the mastectomy. For this reason, implants are better for women with small or medium-sized breasts with little or no sagging [179].
What mobility issues does a post-mastectomy patient have?
However, it turns out that shoulder pain, stiffness, or limited range of motion are very common after breast cancer surgery and/or radiation therapy.
Is physical therapy needed after mastectomy?
Early intervention by a physical therapist can help women regain full function following mastectomy surgery, regardless of whether or not a woman has had reconstruction. Rehabilitation is always tailored to each patient's specific needs.
When do you start chemo after mastectomy?
The NICE guideline on early and locally advanced breast cancer recommends: “Start adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy as soon as clinically possible within 31 days of completion of surgery in patients with early breast cancer having these treatments”. This is in line with the findings of the study.
Do all breast cancers need chemo?
A federally funded study has found that many women with the most common type of early stage breast cancer likely do not need chemotherapy after surgery.
Is it better to have chemo before or after surgery?
The idea is to first shrink the tumor with chemotherapy before any next steps, specifically surgery. “This approach not only can improve surgical options, but also allows for a better assessment of the patient's response to the chemotherapy,” Dr. Moore says.
What is the recovery time after a mastectomy?
A mastectomy is an operation to remove a breast. It's used to treat breast cancer in women and breast cancer in men. The operation takes about 90 minutes, and most people go home the following day. It can take 4 to 6 weeks to recover from a mastectomy.
What is it called when you have pain in your arm after breast cancer surgery?
This is called post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) because it was first noticed in women who had mastectomies, but it can also happen after other types of breast-conserving surgery ...
What is the number to call for breast cancer screening?
Toll-free number: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) Website: www.cancer.gov. Offers current information about breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment as well as information on other types of cancer, as well as information for the family and children of people with cancer.
Can PMPS cause arm pain?
It is important to talk to your doctor about any pain you are having. PMPS can cause you to not use your arm the way you should, and over time you could lose the ability to use it normally.
What to do after a syringe surgery?
And after your operation you might have injections to thin your blood for a while. Tell your doctor straight away or go to A&E if you: have a painful, red, swollen leg, which may feel warm to touch. are short of breath. have pain in your chest or upper back. cough up blood.
Why does my armpit hurt after surgery?
You might have numbness, tingling or a shooting pain in your armpit, upper arm, shoulder or chest wall. This is due to damage to the nerves during surgery. The nerves usually repair themselves, but it can take many weeks or months.
Is it normal to have blood on your wound after surgery?
Bleeding from the wound. You might have a small amount of blood on your wound dressing after surgery, which is normal. Your nurse will regularly check your dressing after the operation. Tell your doctor or nurse straight away if there is more bleeding.
Can you have swelling in your arm after lymphoedema surgery?
This should settle soon after your surgery. Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if the swelling does not settle or if you have pain or tenderness in your arm or hand. You are at risk of long term swelling (lymphoedema) in your hand and arm after surgery to remove your lymph glands.
Most Important Items to Have Post-Mastectomy
Drain lanyard for shower - Once surgery is completed, you will most likely have drains that are coming out of your body and being held in place with stitches. You will need this lanyard to ensure that you can shower with less worry about the drains dangling.
Additional Post-Mastectomy Items
4x4 gauze - You will need gauze to protect your scars and your drain areas, so buy some to have handy.
Why do women have mastectomy?
This surgery is most often used to treat breast cancer. In some cases, a mastectomy is done to help prevent breast cancer in women who have a high risk for it.
When to use nipple sparing mastectomy?
It is used only when breast reconstruction is done right after the mastectomy. It may not be a good method for tumors that are large or near the skin surface. Nipple-sparing mastectomy. This is similar to the skin-sparing mastectomy. It is sometimes called a total skin-sparing mastectomy.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of breast reconstruction?
A disadvantage is having to consider reconstruction options during an already stressful time prior to surgery for cancer. Additionally, if there is a recurrence of the cancer, the reconstruction may need to be modified.
What is the procedure called when you remove the nipple?
Types of mastectomy procedures. There are several types of mastectomy procedures: Total (simple) mastectomy . This method removes the whole breast, including the nipple, the colored ring around the nipple (called the areola), and most of the overlying skin.
What is a cut in breast?
A cut (incision) will be made in your breast. The type of cut made will depend on the type of mastectomy you have. (The areas removed during surgery are shaded in green in the illustration.) The underlying tissue will be gently cut free and removed.
How long do you stay in the hospital after a mastectomy?
You will likely stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days after your mastectomy. This will depend on the extent of your surgery and if you also had breast reconstruction done. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be needed after a mastectomy. Your doctor will advise you about this depending on your particular situation.
What is the alternative to immediate reconstruction?
An alternative solution to immediate reconstruction is a staged process, where the surgeon places a temporary tissue expander to gradually stretch the muscle and skin in preparation for an implant or reconstruction. The overall result can be more symmetrical, natural and aesthetically pleasing. It serves as a placeholder to allow for radiation and any additional cancer treatment to be completed.
What is a mastectomy?
In a mastectomy, the surgeon removes the whole breast that contains the DCIS or cancer. There are two main types of mastectomy. They are: Total mastectomy. The surgeon removes your whole breast. Sometimes, the surgeon also takes out one or more of the lymph nodes under your arm. Also called simple mastectomy.
Why do women have surgery on the opposite breast?
Some women may also decide to have surgery on the opposite breast to help it match the new breast-like shape better. If you have an implant, you are likely to need surgery many years later to remove or replace it. With all three surgeries, you may need more surgery to remove lymph nodes from under your arm.
What is breast surgery?
Breast-sparing surgery means the surgeon removes only the DCIS or cancer and some normal tissue around it. If you have cancer, the surgeon will also remove one or more lymph nodes from under your arm. Breast-sparing surgery usually keeps your breast looking much like it did before surgery. Other words for breast-sparing surgery include:
How to do breast reconstruction?
The first step is called tissue expansion. This is when the plastic surgeon places a balloon expander under the chest muscle. Over many weeks, saline (salt water) will be added to the expander to stretch the chest muscle and the skin on top of it.
What type of breast surgery is needed to remove cancer?
If so, you may be able to choose which type of breast surgery to have. Often, your choice is between breast-sparing surgery (surgery that takes out the cancer and leaves most of the breast) and a mastectomy (surgery that removes the whole breast). Once you are diagnosed, treatment will usually not begin right away.
How long does radiation therapy last after breast sparing surgery?
If you chose to have breast sparing surgery, you will usually need radiation therapy. Radiation treatments are usually given 5 days a week for 5 to 8 weeks. If you have a mastectomy, you may still need radiation therapy. No matter which surgery you choose, you might need: Chemotherapy. Hormone therapy.
What are the three choices for breast cancer?
Most women with DCIS or breast cancer that can be treated with surgery have three surgery choices. Surgery Choices: Cindy, Theresa, Paula. Three women describe the type of surgery that they chose to treat their breast cancer.
Incision and Dressing Care
Activity
- Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting and vigorous exercise until the stitches are removed. Tell your caregiver what you do and he or she will help you make a personal plan for "what you can do w...
- Walking is a normal activity that can be restarted right away.
- You cannot do housework or driving until the drain is out. You may restart driving when you a…
- Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting and vigorous exercise until the stitches are removed. Tell your caregiver what you do and he or she will help you make a personal plan for "what you can do w...
- Walking is a normal activity that can be restarted right away.
- You cannot do housework or driving until the drain is out. You may restart driving when you are no longer on narcotics and you feel safe turning the wheel and stopping quickly.
- Following a lymph node dissection, don't avoid using your arm, but don't exercise it until your first post-operative visit.
Diet
- You may resume your regular diet as soon as you can take fluids after recovering from anesthesia.
- We encourage eight to 10 glasses of water and non-caffeinated beverages per day, plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as lower fat foods. Talk with us about recommendations for healthy eating.
- You may resume your regular diet as soon as you can take fluids after recovering from anesthesia.
- We encourage eight to 10 glasses of water and non-caffeinated beverages per day, plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as lower fat foods. Talk with us about recommendations for healthy eating.
- A nutritionist is available for consultation in the Breast Care Center. Call the front desk to schedule an appointment.
Follow-Up Care
- The pathology results from your surgery should be available within one week after your surgery.
- We will contact you by telephone with the results or will inform you at your post-operative visit. Please let us know the telephone number where you may be reached with the results.
- Follow-up appointments are generally made before surgery with your physician and a nurse. …
- The pathology results from your surgery should be available within one week after your surgery.
- We will contact you by telephone with the results or will inform you at your post-operative visit. Please let us know the telephone number where you may be reached with the results.
- Follow-up appointments are generally made before surgery with your physician and a nurse. Your sutures will be removed in approximately 10 to 14 days. Call the Breast Care Center if you do not have...
- Your dressing will be changed or removed at your post-operative visit.
When to Contact Us
- Contact us for the following problems, any unanswered questions and emotional support needs. Call (415) 353-7070 and ask to speak with a nurse during the day, or the answering service in the evening to reach your doctor or the doctor on call. 1. Pain that is not relieved by medication 2. Fever more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or chills 3. Excessive bleeding, such as a bloody dressi…