cancer treatment - surgical treatment
surgical treatment for breast cancer
Surgery is normally the first treatment you will receive for your breast cancer. The reasons for this are:- It removes the cancer
- It provides further information about the cancer which is then used to plan further treatments.
Surgery to the breast
The operation on the breast is usually either a mastectomy or a partial mastectomy depending mainly on the size and location of the cancer. The operation chosen will be the same irrespective of the type of cancer or whether it is invasive or in-situ.
If you have a mastectomy you will normally be given the option of having a breast reconstruction at the same time.
If you have a partial mastectomy, it is sometimes necessary to reshape the remaining breast tissue to give a more pleasing cosmetic result. If this is needed, it will be done during your operation.
Sometimes, if you have large breasts, it is possible to take away the cancer as part of a breast reducing operation, with the other breast also being reduced to match (therapeutic mammaplasty).
Surgery to the axilla
Surgery to the lymph nodes is always done if you have an invasive cancer. It does not normally need to be done if you have purely in-situ cancer, but there may be a particular reason in your case where it is of benefit. Your surgeon will discuss this further with you.
Lymph node surgery is mainly done because it gives further information about your cancer for treatment planning. If the lymph nodes are involved, by removing them the chances of cancer coming back in the axilla is reduced.
If possible, a sentinel node biopsy will be done. This removes just the first few nodes which drain the breast, and leaves most of the lymphatic drainage undisturbed. The lymph nodes are often looked at by a pathologist straight away and an instant report given (frozen section).
If a sentinel node biopsy is not possible, or the lymph nodes are thought to contain cancer, an axillary dissection (axillary clearance) is done. This removes about half to two thirds of the lymph nodes.