Breast Cancer Operation

Breast cancer can be handled through several options of operation available. Patients are advised to consider a variety of factors in choosing the best type of operation.

Breast cancer being diagnosed early is usually treated through surgery. The type of surgery you will undergo depends on several important factors. Those factors are the size of the cancer and the spread of cancer, especially its spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. In addition, breast size and personal priorities also need to be considered before deciding on a treatment plan.

There are basically two main categories of operations, i.e. operations to remove cancerous tissue and operation to check the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes. When cancer cells are found, the doctor will raise the lymph nodes in accordance with procedure.

The mortality rate of breast cancer sufferers can not be improved, unless there is an early cancer detection as well as the surgical techniques and treatments increasingly modern.

You are advised to find out more about the selection of operations. This can help you to make the best decisions for your health, so you can support the number of breast cancer survivors are recovered.

Breast-Conserving Surgery

Lumpektomi is the surgical removal of the cancerous tissue or lump in the breast along with a small part of the healthy tissue around the cancer. This operation is also known as breast-conserving surgery or breast-sparing surgery. In addition, there is a surgical procedure called a quadrantectomy to remove about a quarter part of the breast. This number belongs to more than the sum of the parts of the breast that was made through the lumpektomi procedure.

After lumpektomi, the doctor may recommend patients to undergo radiation therapy. This therapy aims to destroy microscopic cancer cells that may be left of post operation. Radiation therapy is the use of equipment that can accurately focus the beam energy on areas affected by cancer alone. Healthy cells damaged by radiation therapy can usually be recovered by itself. The most common side effects of radiation therapy this is skin damage such as a Sun God.

To reduce the risk of cancer spread, drug therapy (or known as therapeutic adjuvants) can be done after surgery. There are two types of drug used in therapy, chemotherapy and anti-estrogen drugs. Chemotherapy involves drugs designed to destroy cancer cells. The side effects of chemotherapy, among them:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hair loss
• Low blood cell count

However, the technique of modern chemotherapy has now been able to relieve the side effects. In addition to chemotherapy, anti-estrogen also often recommended depending on hormone sensitivity against cancer and other risk factors. These drugs can be drunk directly, and side effects are categorized as mild.

Mastectomy

Breast-conserving surgery is now more likely to be selected as compared with mastectomy. Mastectomy is surgery to remove the entire breast. However, some women may prefer mastectomy to make sure that his cancer is completely gone.

In a simple mastectomy (also called total mastectomy) indeed, the surgeon will lift the whole breast. However, lymph nodes under the arm or under the breast muscle tissue will not be eliminated.

Modified radical mastectomy is basically almost the same with a total mastectomy. The difference, the lymph nodes under the arm are also lifted. This operation is more than a radical mastectomy is chosen, once very common. In addition to lifting the breast along with the lymph nodes, the surgeon will also lift the chest muscles (pectoral) in radical mastectomy procedure. Radical mastectomy cause significant form defects, while disability/changing shape due to radical mastectomy belongs to the lighter. In addition, a modified radical mastectomy also worked effectively to treat cancer.

Women with breast cancer risk is very high may choose surgical removal of both breasts. This procedure is called with a double mastectomy. Total mastectomy can prevent cancer developing from one breast to the other breast.

Lymph gland operation

There are two basic operations conducted to know the spread of cancer to lymph nodes near the breast. The lymphatic system is a network of glands and vessels that carry a liquid called lymph nodes throughout the body. Lymph system (lymph) is an important part of the immune system. Lymph nodes will fight infection and filter out toxic materials in the body.

Lymph nodes are particularly vulnerable are attacked by breast cancer called the sentinel gland. This gland is located in a group of lymph nodes in the armpit (aksila). The sentinel lymph node in the procedure of biopsy (SLNB), the doctor took the glands sentinel. The gland will then be examined to check or no cancer cells. If cancer cells are not found through the procedure of SLNB, chances are you do not have to undergo the surgical removal of the lymph nodes.

However, if the cancer cells are found, you may be advised to undergo a surgical procedure known as axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). It involves the taking of a large number of ALND lymph nodes from under the arm. The samples will be tested to find out the presence of cancer cells. This procedure can be done in conjunction with mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. However, it does not cover the possibility of the procedure is performed separately.

One of the serious side effects of ALND is limfedema. Limfedema is characterized by the presence of swelling of the arm due to the pile of fluids. This fluid buildup caused by loss of lymphatic vessels in the lymph glands which help the body in maintaining fluid balance.

Breast reconstruction

Many women choose to restore the shape of the breast after cancer surgery. This process is referred to as a breast reconstruction. In some cases, breast reconstruction can be performed in conjunction with an operation or at a later date. Surgeons can use the skin and fat (taken from the abdomen or other parts of your body) to duplicate the original shape of the breasts. Another alternative, saline implants or silicone can be used.

Concerns about the safety of silicone implants have been addressed by advances in technology. At this time, many who choose silicone materials and thicker called cohesive gel.

If you are interested to do the breast reconstruction surgery, consult a doctor and specialist surgical reconstruction of you. They can discuss options with risk associated with this procedure.

Breast cancer surgery has consequences, both physically and psychologically. Make sure the one you feel before and after undergoing the operation because it is an important part of the healing process.

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, discuss all treatment options with your doctor. In addition, look for other opinions about the surgery and the prognosis that can solidify your decision. Breast cancer surgery may be an option that can heal at the same time change your life.