Breast cancer Surgery
Mastectomy is the removal of the breast. It may also involve removal of the tissues under the breast, muscle and the muscle lining called fascia. The extent of removal of these structures is the reason for the name of the surgery, simple, modified, radical.
Mastectomy is effective for early breast cancer and may not require radiation. The drawback is the mutilation: loss of a breast has a psychological effect on women which has to be taken into account.
Stages 111 and 1V breast cancer usually require mastectomy .
Reconstructive surgery is still possible after mastectomy.
Lumpectomy is the removal of the cancer but not the breast or surrounding tissue.
Lumpectomy has become increasingly popular especially with radiation which often gives about as good a result from the survival/recurrence point of view. Lumpectomy is less mutilating than mastectomy and reconstructive surgery may not be required.
