Mastectomy Surgery Treatment

Mastectomy is a surgical procedure, in which entire breast tissues are removed by the surgeon that are causing concerns in the breast. The surgery contributes in the prevention of breast cancer treatment. Mastectomies may involve the removal of the breast tissue as well as the nipple and breast skin. The skin or nipple may remain after some more new mastectomy procedures.

Patients can decide to have surgery to give their breasts back their original shape. This process is known as breast reconstruction. It can be performed concurrently with a mastectomy or as a follow-up procedure. Reconstruction of the breast may require multiple surgeries. The look of the breast following surgery may be enhanced by these procedures. Those who are at a very high risk of having breast cancer can also avoid it.

How Breast Cancer Treated With Mastectomy

The best method to treat cancer and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the body is to remove the cancer cells from the body. The surgeon removes all of the tissue from the breast, including any areas with cancer cells, during a mastectomy.

What Kinds of Breast Cancer are Treated through Mastectomy?

The various kinds of breast cancer can be treated with this condition:

• Ductal carcinoma.
• Infiltrating lobular carcinoma.
• Triple-negative breast cancer.
• Inflammatory Breast cancer.
• Paget’s disease.

Treatment Procedure of Mastectomy Surgery

a) Before Procedure

It usually takes one to three hours to perform a mastectomy without reconstruction. Frequently, the surgery is performed as an outpatient process. On the day of the procedure, the majority of patients return home. Before surgery, the blue dye and radioactive tracer are injected into the skin close to the cancer if a patient has a sentinel node biopsy. To get to the sentinel nodes, the dye and tracer travel. This makes it possible for the surgeon to locate the nodes and remove them during surgery.

b) During the Procedure

• General anesthesia is typically used during a mastectomy. This indicates that patients are essentially asleep throughout the procedure.
• The first thing the surgeon does is cut around the breast. They remove the breast tissue.
• Patients may possibly have other breast portions removed, depending on the treatment.
• The excised lymph nodes and breast tissue will be forwarded to a laboratory for analysis.
• The plastic surgeon will do the breast reconstruction after the removal surgery is finished. If individuals are having both procedures done at the same time.
• After the procedure is finished, stitches are used to close the wound. These stitches are frequently the kind that go away with time.
• One or two little plastic tubes may be inserted where the breast was removed. Any fluids that accumulate following surgery are drained by the tubes.

c) After Procedure

• Patient shifted to the recovery room, where individual breathing pulse and blood pressure are tracked.
• Cover the surgical site with a bandage.
• In the underarm region, patients can experience some pain, numbness, and a pinching sensation.
• Find out how to take care of yourself at home. Instructions include understanding activity limitations, knowing how to treat your incision and drains, and being aware of infection symptoms.
• Consult your medical team about when to wear a breast prosthesis. And prescribed antibiotics and painkillers if necessary.

Types of Mastectomies

There are several types of breast removal surgeries. They are listed below:

1. Simple or total mastectomy

• In this case, the healthcare expert can remove all the tissue but leave pectoral muscle. These may be unilateral or bilateral.

2. Partial mastectomy

• During this surgery, a surgeon can remove a single tumor from the breast along with a border of healthy tissue. When treating early-stage breast cancer. Then lumpectomy may be the perfect option.

3. Double or bilateral

• It is a total mastectomy of both breasts. If patients have cancer in both breasts or have a high risk of cancer occurring in both busts of a woman. Then it is a case of double mastectomy.

4. Skin or nipple sparing

• Removal of tissue from the breast, but the surgeon spares the skin or nipple to use in the reconstruction of the breast.

5. Radical 

• It involves the removal of pectoral muscles, underarm lymph nodes, and breast tissue. Although this activity is not often performed nowadays, it can be required if cancer has progressed to the muscles.

6. Reconstruction of breast

• When the patient is undergoing a skin or nipple-sparing procedure. Health conditions and course of treatment will determine this. Later on, an individual may also undergo a separate procedure for breast reconstruction. Fixing of the areola and nipple may be part of the breast reconstruction activity.

Risks & Benefits of Mastectomy Surgery

There are several advantages to this surgical operation. These are mentioned below:

• It lowers the chance of recurrence by removing all of the breast tissue. This also destroys the cancer cells remaining in the breast.
• X-rays are no longer required for people who have this surgery performed on them because the breast tissue is removed.
• Radiation therapy is no longer necessary after the surgery, leading to side effects, such as skin changes.
• A lot of women have gone through this surgery. Such females also choose to have their breasts rebuilt, which can enhance their body image and general quality of life.
• It eliminates the physical memory of cancer; some people may find that it offers them mental peace and closure.

This surgery carries various risks and complications, such as:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Stiffness in shoulder
• Pain
• Numbness in chest
• Swelling in arms
• Loss of sensation
• Nipple areola necrosis or retraction
• Scarring
• Blood clotting
• Heart attack
• Risk of recurrence