Definition
A mastectomy is the surgical removal of the entire breast, usually to treat serious breast disease, such as breast cancer.
There are four general types of mastectomy:
- Subcutaneous mastectomy -- the entire breast is removed but the nipple and areola (the pigmented circle around the nipple) remain in place
- Total (or simple) mastectomy -- removal of the whole breast, but not the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary nodes).
- Modified radical mastectomy -- removal of the whole breast and most of the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary dissection)
- Radical mastectomy -- removal of the chest wall muscles (pectorals) in addition to the breast and axillary lymph nodes. For many years, this operation was considered the standard ...
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Definition
A mastectomy is the surgical removal of the entire breast, usually to treat serious breast disease, such as breast cancer.
There are four general types of mastectomy:
- Subcutaneous mastectomy -- the entire breast is removed but the nipple and areola (the pigmented circle around the nipple) remain in place
- Total (or simple) mastectomy -- removal of the whole breast, but not the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary nodes).
- Modified radical mastectomy -- removal of the whole breast and most of the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary dissection)
- Radical mastectomy -- removal of the chest wall muscles (pectorals) in addition to the breast and axillary lymph nodes. For many years, this operation was considered the standard for women with breast cancer, but it is rarely ...
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Recovery
The hospital stay varies from 1 to 3 days, depending on the type of surgery. Longer stays are common if breast reconstruction is included. As discussed earlier, surgical drains are commonly placed to remove any fluid that might collect.
Drains may be left in at the time of discharge from the hospital, and you will be instructed to measure the fluid that drains from them. Stitches are often placed under the skin and dissolve on their own. If non-dissolving stitches or clips are used, they are typically removed 7 to 10 days after surgery. Full recovery may take as long as 3-6 weeks.
It takes time for a woman to adjust to the loss of a breast. Talking to other ...
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Description
While the patient is anesthetized (unconscious and pain-free), an incision is made into the breast. The breast tissue is removed from the overlying skin and the underlying muscle. When an axillary dissection is done, it is typically via the same incision.
One or two small plastic drains are usually left in place to prevent fluid from collecting in the space where the breast tissue used to be.
Your surgeon will decide when these drains are removed, typically when the amount of fluid draining decreases to an acceptable volume. This may take a few days to a week or more. Many women go home with their drains and have them removed during an office visit.
It is possible to reconstruct the breast (with ...
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Outlook (Prognosis)
The successful treatment of breast cancer and the likelihood of long-term survival for women with breast cancer depends critically on the stage of the disease when diagnosed.
Self-breast examination, regular clinical breast examinations by medical professionals, and annual screening with X-ray mammography are the main tools of early detection of breast cancer.
Of these three, screening mammography combined with clinical breast examination is the most effective detection method. In the United States, yearly screening mammography is recommended for women over the age of 40.
Detected in its earliest stages, appropriate treatment results in a ten-year survival rate of over 90%. New cases of breast cancer have been gradually increasing in recent years, and will likely continue to do so as the population ages.
However, the chance of dying from breast cancer has been steadily falling by about 1-2% a ...
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Risks
Mastectomy is very safe surgery, and most patients recover well with no complications. As with any surgery, however, there are risks. Possible complications are listed here, but keep in mind that unless stated otherwise, they usually do not happen.
The risks of any surgery are bleeding, infection, and injury to nearby tissues. Some post-operative pain and soreness is expected, but can be effectively treated with pain medication. There will also be a scar on the chest wall. Scarring occurs with all surgery, and is unavoidable.
General anesthesia risks include potential breathing and heart problems, as well possible reactions to medications. For a woman who is otherwise in good health, the risk of a serious complication due to general anesthesia is ...
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