The most common treatment for breast cancer is surgery. There are a number of types of surgery. Our breast surgeon will be able to give you details on each type, talk about and evaluate the benefits and risks, and explain how each will change the way you look:
- Breast-sparing surgery: An operation that removes the cancer but not the breast is breast-sparing surgery. It is also known as a lumpectomy, segmental mastectomy, or partial mastectomy. The breast surgeon may also remove the underarm lymph nodes as well. This procedure is called an axillary lymph node dissection. It will show the breast surgeon if cancer cells are present in the lymphatic system. Once the breast-sparing surgery has been performed, nearly all women will be given radiation therapy to the breast. This cancer treatment kills the cancer cells that might have remained in the breast.
- Mastectomy: An operation to remove the breast (or as much of the breast tissue as achievable) is a mastectomy. The breast surgeon also removes lymph nodes under the arm. Most women have radiation therapy after surgery. Studies have found that the survival rates for breast-sparing surgery (with radiation therapy) and mastectomy for Stage I and Stage II breast cancer are usually equal.
A new method of looking for cancer cells in the lymph nodes is a sentinel lymph node biopsy. A breast surgeon removes fewer lymph nodes, which usually will have fewer side effects.
Healing after breast surgery takes time and is different for every woman. Your breast surgery will cause tenderness and pain. Medications can be prescribed for breast pain. Before any surgery, please feel free to talk to our breast surgeon to discuss a plan for breast pain relief. Our breast surgeon will alter the plan after your breast surgery if you need additional aid for the breast pain. Be sure to contact Texas Breast Care immediately if you experience any problems after your breast surgery.
Some questions you may want to discuss with our breast surgeon:
- What types of surgery are best for me?
- Will my lymph nodes also need to be removed? How many? Why?
- Will I have to stay in the hospital? If so, how long will I have to stay in the hospital?
- Will I be shown how to take care for myself and my incision when I get home?
- Will the scars be visible and where will they be located?
- Will a physical therapist or nurse show me how to do any exercises that may be required to help recover motion and strength in my arm and shoulder?
- Is there a support group that I can contact that has had the same surgery I'll be having?
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed, you need answers
� and reassurance, call or
email us at (972) 284-0080.
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