Mastectomy is essentially the surgical removal of the breast. The exact procedure of mastectomy that is to be done is to be determined after careful evaluation and assessment between you and your doctor.
What are the types of mastectomy ?
There are three basic types of Mastectomy.
- Simple mastectomy : This entails surgical removal of the entire breast.
- Partial or segmental mastectomy : This entails removal of just a portion of the breast tissue including the extent of tumor.
- Modified radical mastectomy : This entails entire breast removal including all of the lymph nodes in the underarm or axillary region.
The removal of axillary nodes (lymph nodes) ensures that your doctor obtains important information on if the nodes have cancer cells or not. This will determine the appropriate treatment for you after your surgery.
What is simple mastectomy surgery and when is it indicated ?
A simple or total mastectomy means that the surgeon will surgically remove the entire breast, but does not touch the lymph nodes underneath the arm.
Your doctor may recommend this only if you have a non-invasive or benign breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS). In case you are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, it has to be removed along with adjoining lymph nodes for microscopic examination.
What is the procedure for simple mastectomy surgery ?
After hospital admission and surgery preparation by the nursing staff, you will be taken to the Operating Room. The most commonly used anesthesia for mastectomy is general anesthesia (the kind that puts you to sleep). You will be put on an intravenous line for fluids and medication. The duration of surgery is around one hour, in which the surgeon will incise the skin and breast tissue and remove it as well. The area is then sutured up, with the placement of drainage tubes, to aid in pus and fluid drainage.
What can you expect after simple mastectomy surgery ?
You will have to rest in the recovery room for 1-2 hours while you recover from the general anesthesia. You will then be taken to your hospital room or to the Day Surgery.
You will experience pain and for that, your doctor will prescribe pain medication either by injections or tablets. It is to be expected that you have discomfort/pain after your surgery. However, it can be kept under control by medication. You may also experience some numbness and tingling sensation in your upper arm. This will slowly decrease in time.
What are the side effects of a mastectomy ?
The possible side effects of a mastectomy include the following.
- Infection of the surgical area
- Accumulation of blood in the surgical area (hematoma)
- Accumulation of clear fluid in the surgical area (seroma)
- A rare complication occurring when the skin flaps do not heal properly (called flap necrosis). Smoking increases your risk of flap necrosis.
How do you gear yourself up to deal with simple mastectomy surgery ?
After you have had a mastectomy, you may be emotionally overwhelmed. You may think about the fact that you have been treated for a serious disease. You have had an operation that has changed your appearance, perhaps your self-image. You might wonder how the mastectomy will affect your lifestyle and personal relationships. You may be unsure how to act towards family and friends.
Feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety and fear of looking at the incision area will affect you. A Mastectomy drastically changes your body image. You will feel the loss of a breast. This may also affect sexual intimacy. It would definitely help to discuss possible sexual problems either with one’s partner, or with a counselor or a with specific breast cancer support groups.
Each woman’s reaction to a mastectomy is different. You can take steps to ease your emotional adjustment. Express all your feelings to your doctor and people who are close to you. This will aid your doctor to understand what you need to fully recover and this will help your family and friends to share your difficulties and in turn help you get over them. Your family and friends can definitely be your strongest supporters.
If you have a mastectomy, can you have plastic surgery for breast reconstruction ?
Yes, breast reconstruction can either be done immediately after mastectomy or in a delayed manner after all necessary chemotherapy or radiation therapy (only if required) is given to you.
How to find breast cancer surgeons for simple mastectomy surgery ?
Now you can find breast cancer surgeons for simple mastectomy surgery from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions from multiple breast cancer surgeons, get approximate cost for simple mastectomy surgery from various hospitals, compare things and then choose a breast cancer surgeon for simple mastectomy surgery.
Find and choose a breast cancer surgeon for simple mastectomy surgery on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
