Overview

A mastectomy is surgery to get rid of all breast tissue from a breast as how to treat or prevent carcinoma.

For those with early-stage carcinoma , a mastectomy could also be one treatment option. Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), during which only the tumor is faraway from the breast, could also be an alternative choice .
Deciding between a mastectomy and lumpectomy are often difficult. Both procedures are equally effective for preventing a recurrence of carcinoma . But a lumpectomy isn't an option for everybody with carcinoma , et al. like better to undergo a mastectomy.

Newer mastectomy techniques can preserve breast skin and permit for a more natural breast appearance following the procedure. This is also known as skin-sparing mastectomy.

Surgery to revive shape to your breast — called breast reconstruction — could also be done at an equivalent time as your mastectomy or during a second operation at a later date.

Why it's done

A mastectomy is employed to get rid of all breast tissue if you've got carcinoma or are at very high risk of developing it. You may have a mastectomy to get rid of one breast (unilateral mastectomy) or both breasts (bilateral mastectomy).

Mastectomy for breast cancer treatment

A mastectomy could also be a treatment option for several sorts of carcinoma , including:

Ø  Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or noninvasive breast cancer

Ø  Stages I and II (early-stage) breast cancer

Ø  Stage III (locally advanced) breast cancer — after chemotherapy

Ø  Inflammatory breast cancer — after chemotherapy

Ø  Paget's disease of the breast

Ø  Locally recurrent breast cancer

Your doctor may recommend a mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy plus radiation if:

Ø     You have two or more tumors in separate areas of the breast.

Ø     You have widespread or malignant-appearing calcium deposits (microcalcifications) throughout the breast that have been determined to be cancer after a breast biopsy.

Ø     You've previously had radiation treatment to the breast region and the breast cancer has recurred in the breast.

Ø     You're pregnant and radiation creates an unacceptable risk to your unborn child.

Ø     You've had a lumpectomy, but cancer is still present at the edges (margin) of the operated area and there is concern about cancer extending to elsewhere in the breast.

Ø     You carry a gene mutation that gives you a high risk of developing a second cancer in your breast.

Ø     You have a large tumor relative to the overall size of your breast. You may not have enough healthy tissue left after a lumpectomy to realize a suitable cosmetic result.

Ø     You have a connective tissue disease, such as scleroderma or lupus, and may not tolerate the side effects of radiation to the skin.

Mastectomy to prevent breast cancer

You might also consider a mastectomy if you do not have carcinoma , but have a really high risk of developing the disease. A preventive (prophylactic) or risk-reducing mastectomy involves removing both of your breasts and significantly reduces your risk of developing carcinoma within the future.

A prophylactic mastectomy is reserved for those with a really high risk of carcinoma , which is decided by a robust case history of carcinoma or the presence of certain genetic mutations that increase the anger of carcinoma.

Risks

Risks of a mastectomy include:

Ø  Bleeding

Ø  Infection

Ø  Pain

Ø  Swelling (lymphedema) in your arm if you have an axillary node dissection

Ø  Formation of hard scar tissue at the surgical site

Ø  Shoulder pain and stiffness

Ø  Numbness, particularly under your arm, from lymph node removal

Ø  Buildup of blood in the surgical site (hematoma)

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