Healthy Tips For Better Life

Surgery As a Breast Cancer Treatment?

Surgery is the first option and most common breast cancer treatment for this disease. After the diagnosis, your doctor will explain, compare and discuss the risks and benefits for each surgery type. He will also describe how each type of surgery will change how you look.

Breast Sparing Surgery

Also known as breast conserving surgery, this is a breast cancer treatment operation to remove the tumor and not the breast. This can be a segmental mastectomy, also known as partial mastectomy, or a lumpectomy. Oftentimes, all a woman needs to remove the whole lump is an excisional biopsy.

In this option, the surgeon will remove the breast tumor and some normal tissues surrounding it. He may also remove the lymph nodes located under the arm, and some of the chest muscles lining under the tumor.

Mastectomy

This surgery removes the whole breast, or as many breast tissues as possible. A skin-sparing mastectomy is an option in some cases. In this breast cancer treatment, the surgeon will have the skin removed as little as possible.

There are 2 types of mastectomy breast cancer treatment - total and modified radical mastectomy. In total mastectomy, the whole breast and some of the lymph nodes located under the arm are removed. The lymph nodes are checked for cancer cells. If the lymph nodes are found to be cancerous, other cancer treatments are needed.

In a modified radical mastectomy, most or all the lymph nodes and the whole breast are removed. The chest muscles lining and small chest muscles may be removed so that the lymph nodes are easily removed.

After Surgery

After the breast cancer treatment surgery, each woman has different healing time and processes. Surgery usually causes tenderness and pain. Medication helps control this pain. Before going for surgery, it is advisable to discuss the pain relief plan with your doctor. If you need more pain relief after surgery, the plan can be adjusted. Any types of surgery carry a bleeding or infection risks. It may cause other problems too. Any problems encountered should be told to your doctor immediately.

Having 1 or both breasts removed may cause you to feel off balance, especially if you have big breasts. The imbalance can cause back and neck discomfort. The area where the skin was removed may feel tight. Nerves are cut or injured during surgery, and thus you may have tingling and numbness in your underarm, upper arm, chest, and shoulder. Your shoulder muscles and arm may feel weak and stiff after the breast cancer treatment surgery. These problems usually fade after a few weeks. Exercises may be suggested by the doctor or medical professional to help you regain strength and movement in your shoulder and arms. Exercising also reduces pain and stiffness. You can start with gentle exercises within a few days of surgery.

Removing lymph nodes located below the arm during the breast cancer treatment surgery slows lymph fluid flow. This fluid builds up in your hands and arms and causes swelling, also known as lymphedema. Lymphedema may develop after surgery, months or years later. Protecting the hand and arm on the affected area from burns, cuts, or other injuries is necessary.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is a plastic surgery to reconstruct the breast's shape after the breast cancer treatment surgery. It can be done during the surgery to remove the cancer or later. Consult a plastic surgeon before the cancer removal surgery if you are considering breast reconstruction.

• Pain Relief For Ovarian Cyst Symptoms
• What to Expect Right After Your Tummy Tuck Surgery
• Hemorrhoids Pain Relief – 6 Ways to Lesser Pain
• Pain and Endometriosis Pain Relief Using ProSirona by Claire Ellen Products
• Fibroid Pain Relief-Easy Strategies to Ease the Symptoms of Fibroids
• Hypnotherapy for Surgery and Healing