Many women are afraid of having yearly breast exams because of the fear of cancer. While having an exam can be uncomfortable it can be a lifesaving measure. Most cancer can be found through routine exams and many suspect lumps found in the breast can be removed with a lumpectomy. It is only when cancer isn't found right away that a more invasive form of surgery breast cancer, a mastectomy, is used.
A lumpectomy is a form of surgery that is performed when a tumor has been discovered in the breast. The lump is either found by the individual doing a self-exam or by a physician during a routine exam. When it has been determined by a biopsy that the tumor needs to be removed a lumpectomy is scheduled. The usual scenario is for a lumpectomy is for a surgeon to remove the tumor and some of the normal tissue that surrounds the tumor. The normal tissue is removed to determine if cancer cells are spreading to the surrounding tissue. It is important to discuss the lumpectomy with a physician prior to surgery breast cancer so there is a clear understanding of how much tissue will be removed during the surgery.
After surgery breast cancer the patient can usually return home the same day. Radiation therapy on the remaining breast tissue is recommended, especially in women under the age of fifty. Radiation reduces the reoccurrence of cancer in the same breast.
A mastectomy is the removal of the entire breast. This is a radical form of surgery breast cancer and is usually only chosen if the tumor is large or if a patient has connective tissue disease, which would result in an adverse reaction to radiation therapy.
During a mastectomy surgery, the breast tissue is removed between the collarbone and the ribs and from the side to the breastbone. Occasionally some of the underlying muscle is also removed depending on the degree of severity of the cancer. Some women elect to have reconstruction surgery during the mastectomy. Prior to surgery breast cancer the woman will select the size of the implant and a plastic surgeon will usually perform this procedure. Depending on the stage of cancer a woman may need to delay reconstructive surgery up to six months after a mastectomy. Women who elect not to have the reconstruction choose the TRAM flap procedure. This is best described as a tummy tuck. The fat from the abdomen is removed and is used to replace the tissue taken during the mastectomy. The recovery time is usually three to five days in the hospital after the surgery.
Once cancer is detected, the stage of cancer and the size of a tumor will determine the treatment options. Tumors smaller than five centimeters can usually be treated with a lumpectomy; tumors larger than five centimeters usually require a mastectomy. Early stage cancer patients can usually have reconstructive surgery following the procedure. Scheduling requires coordinating the two separate surgical teams needed for the procedures. Intermediate to advanced cancer stages require almost immediate surgery and radiation therapy. Depending on each individual case, reconstructive surgery may or may not be advisable until six months after surgery.
Anti estrogen therapy may also be indicated after surgery. Common anti estrogen therapy medications include Herceptin and Tamoxifen. The best way to determine the direction that cancer therapy will take is to discuss all options with the treating physician.