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What is Mastectomy?
A mastectomy is a surgery to remove a breast or part of breast. It is usually done to treat breast cancer.
Are You looking for a Surgery for DCIS or Breast Cancer?
You might come across two types of surgery
Each surgery has its own advantages and disadvantages. But today we will talk about only mastectomy.
In this surgery, you can face some problems after surgery and you may also go through another surgery which is breast reconstruction and therapy such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.
Basically Mastectomy is of two types :
Total Mastectomy (Simple Mastectomy) :
In this, with your whole breast, surgeon also takes out one or more of the lymph nodes under your arm.
Modified Radial Mastectomy : In this, surgeon takes out your whole breast, many of your lymph nodes along with the lining over your chest muscles.
Mastectomy with Breast Reconstruction Surgery :
After mastectomy, you may have to wear prosthesis (Breast like structure). But you have another option that is breast reconstruction surgery.
Breast Reconstruction Surgery is of two types :
Breast Implant :
In breast implant , surgeon place a balloon expander under your chest muscles which make space under your chest. When sufficient space is made by the expander, surgeon remove this from your body and fill that space with saline or with silicon gel. Although this looks like your breast but have not the same feeling.
Problems you might face after breast implant
This surgery has chances that you may require another surgery in future because some problems can arise in future such as breast hardness, pain and infection and other types of problems are, this artificial breast may break, shift. your will face some difficulty in making balance of your body and pain in neck and shoulder. your will also have scars on it.but they tend to fade over time.
Tissue Flap :
In tissue flap surgery, surgeon make your breast with tissue which is generally taken from your belly, back and thigh. If a woman is weak and has less flesh on her body then she has to choose breast implant.
Problems you might face after tissue flap :
This surgery has its own side effects. A woman takes a long time to recover. A woman who undergoes this surgery, has to face some weakness in that part from tissue has been taken and can also cause infection. your breast may become hard and can become painful. you may not like the shape of your breast with having scars on it but they tend to fade over time.
Tissue flap surgery is best done by a reconstructive plastic surgeon who has special training in this type of surgery and has done it many times before.
You can have reconstruction surgery at the same time of mastectomy surgery or have it later.
Mastectomy is best for you if :
Recovering from Breast Surgery
Will I have pain?
Most people have some pain after surgery.
Talk with your doctor or nurse before surgery about ways to control pain after surgery. Also, tell them if your pain control is not working.
How much time will it take to return back to your normal life?
If you choose only mastectomy, then it will take 3-4 weeks to feel normal but if you choose mastectomy with reconstruction surgery, then it will take 6-8 weeks.
Will you need more surgery?
Will this surgery affect the life-span of yours and chances of again having the same cancer?
No, this surgery will not affect your life- span. The chances of again suffering from the same cancer at the same area is 5% within 12 years.
My Advice
After talking with a surgeon, think about getting the advice of another surgeon. Thus surgeon might tell you about more treatment options. There might be chances that he or she will not agree with the advice of first surgeon.
I think, you found it to be helpful.
If yes, then subscribe this blog to get notified so that you never miss a chance to read this type of health related knowledge and tips.
A mastectomy is a surgery to remove a breast or part of breast. It is usually done to treat breast cancer.
Are You looking for a Surgery for DCIS or Breast Cancer?
You might come across two types of surgery
- Breast sparing surgery (In this surgery only that part of breast will remove which have cancer with some normal tissues)
- Mastectomy (In this surgery the whole breast will be removed)
In this surgery, you can face some problems after surgery and you may also go through another surgery which is breast reconstruction and therapy such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.
Basically Mastectomy is of two types :
- Total Mastectomy
- Modified Radial Mastectomy
 |
| Image Source -Google|Image By - cancer.org |
Total Mastectomy (Simple Mastectomy) :
In this, with your whole breast, surgeon also takes out one or more of the lymph nodes under your arm.
Modified Radial Mastectomy : In this, surgeon takes out your whole breast, many of your lymph nodes along with the lining over your chest muscles.
Mastectomy with Breast Reconstruction Surgery :
After mastectomy, you may have to wear prosthesis (Breast like structure). But you have another option that is breast reconstruction surgery.
Breast Reconstruction Surgery is of two types :
- Breast Implant
- Tissue Flap
Breast Implant :
In breast implant , surgeon place a balloon expander under your chest muscles which make space under your chest. When sufficient space is made by the expander, surgeon remove this from your body and fill that space with saline or with silicon gel. Although this looks like your breast but have not the same feeling.
Problems you might face after breast implant
This surgery has chances that you may require another surgery in future because some problems can arise in future such as breast hardness, pain and infection and other types of problems are, this artificial breast may break, shift. your will face some difficulty in making balance of your body and pain in neck and shoulder. your will also have scars on it.but they tend to fade over time.
Tissue Flap :
In tissue flap surgery, surgeon make your breast with tissue which is generally taken from your belly, back and thigh. If a woman is weak and has less flesh on her body then she has to choose breast implant.
Problems you might face after tissue flap :
This surgery has its own side effects. A woman takes a long time to recover. A woman who undergoes this surgery, has to face some weakness in that part from tissue has been taken and can also cause infection. your breast may become hard and can become painful. you may not like the shape of your breast with having scars on it but they tend to fade over time.
Tissue flap surgery is best done by a reconstructive plastic surgeon who has special training in this type of surgery and has done it many times before.
You can have reconstruction surgery at the same time of mastectomy surgery or have it later.
Mastectomy is best for you if :
- your breast size is small and have large area of cancer
- you have cancer in more than one part of your breast
- cancer is under nipple
Recovering from Breast Surgery
Will I have pain?
Most people have some pain after surgery.
Talk with your doctor or nurse before surgery about ways to control pain after surgery. Also, tell them if your pain control is not working.
How much time will it take to return back to your normal life?
If you choose only mastectomy, then it will take 3-4 weeks to feel normal but if you choose mastectomy with reconstruction surgery, then it will take 6-8 weeks.
Will you need more surgery?
- If surgeon does not remove the cancer tissue from your body
- If you have problem after mastectomy
- You will face more then one surgery to build a new breast-like shape
- If you choose to have nipples
- If have an implant, you are likely to need surgery many years later to remove it or to replace it
Will this surgery affect the life-span of yours and chances of again having the same cancer?
No, this surgery will not affect your life- span. The chances of again suffering from the same cancer at the same area is 5% within 12 years.
My Advice
After talking with a surgeon, think about getting the advice of another surgeon. Thus surgeon might tell you about more treatment options. There might be chances that he or she will not agree with the advice of first surgeon.
I think, you found it to be helpful.
If yes, then subscribe this blog to get notified so that you never miss a chance to read this type of health related knowledge and tips.
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