For women that suffer from breast cancer, the best way to recover is to go for breast surgery. This is the only way in which cancerous tumors can be removed. The options available are numerous, among them mastectomy and breast-conserving surgeries. Surgeons can reconstruct breasts during the surgical procedure, or do it afterwards. Surgeries will also be used to check lymph nodes to ensure there is no spread of the cells. The two options of doing this are axillary dissection and sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Conservation surgeries for breasts are also called partial mastectomy. Basically, what happens is that the affected sections of breasts are gotten rid of while leaving the healthy portions intact. The removed sizes will be dependent on both the size and location of the tumors, plus several other factors. If there is requirement of radiation therapy after the procedure, small metal chips will need to be placed in the breasts. The chips serve to mark the different areas that will need to undergo radiation treatment.
Lumpectomy involves getting rid of the tumors and the surrounding margins that have normal tissue. This procedure will be followed by radiation therapy. There however are times when chemotherapy needs to be given. In such instances, radiation gets delayed until chemotherapy is done with.
Quadrantectomy involves removal of more tissue than is the case in lumpectomy. In this procedure, there is removal of one quarter of the breast, hence the name. It is after the surgical procedure is completed that radiation is done. Just like in lumpectomy, radiation would have to be delayed if chemotherapy was to be given as well.
If in any case cancerous cells are present at edges of removed tissues, they will be known as positive margins. On the other hand, lack of these cells at the margins makes them be referred to as negative margins. Having positive margins implies that more cancerous cells are still present and the surgeon would have to remove more tissues in a process known as re-excision. In more serious cases, the margins cannot be cleared of the cells through removal of tissues. In such cases, more advanced procedures will be required, notably mastectomy.
As much as possible, patients will always need to schedule appointments with the surgeon so that they understand the possible side effects of the entire procedure. Among these side effects are pain, development of hard tissue, tenderness and temporary swelling. Moreover, just like in any other surgical procedures, infections and bleeding are possible side effects as well.
Removing large portions of breasts will make it likely that there will be some change in their shape. Whenever breasts look very different after surgical procedures, then reconstructive surgeries will be required. On the other hand, the unaffected breast may have to be reduced in size to achieve symmetry. This can possibly be done even during the initial surgical procedure.
Breast surgery will require that the patient holds a meeting beforehand with the surgeon or doctor so that they know what the breasts will look like after the procedure. Options of dealing with shape changes will also be explored. It makes patients to approach the procedure with more confidence.
Conservation surgeries for breasts are also called partial mastectomy. Basically, what happens is that the affected sections of breasts are gotten rid of while leaving the healthy portions intact. The removed sizes will be dependent on both the size and location of the tumors, plus several other factors. If there is requirement of radiation therapy after the procedure, small metal chips will need to be placed in the breasts. The chips serve to mark the different areas that will need to undergo radiation treatment.
Lumpectomy involves getting rid of the tumors and the surrounding margins that have normal tissue. This procedure will be followed by radiation therapy. There however are times when chemotherapy needs to be given. In such instances, radiation gets delayed until chemotherapy is done with.
Quadrantectomy involves removal of more tissue than is the case in lumpectomy. In this procedure, there is removal of one quarter of the breast, hence the name. It is after the surgical procedure is completed that radiation is done. Just like in lumpectomy, radiation would have to be delayed if chemotherapy was to be given as well.
If in any case cancerous cells are present at edges of removed tissues, they will be known as positive margins. On the other hand, lack of these cells at the margins makes them be referred to as negative margins. Having positive margins implies that more cancerous cells are still present and the surgeon would have to remove more tissues in a process known as re-excision. In more serious cases, the margins cannot be cleared of the cells through removal of tissues. In such cases, more advanced procedures will be required, notably mastectomy.
As much as possible, patients will always need to schedule appointments with the surgeon so that they understand the possible side effects of the entire procedure. Among these side effects are pain, development of hard tissue, tenderness and temporary swelling. Moreover, just like in any other surgical procedures, infections and bleeding are possible side effects as well.
Removing large portions of breasts will make it likely that there will be some change in their shape. Whenever breasts look very different after surgical procedures, then reconstructive surgeries will be required. On the other hand, the unaffected breast may have to be reduced in size to achieve symmetry. This can possibly be done even during the initial surgical procedure.
Breast surgery will require that the patient holds a meeting beforehand with the surgeon or doctor so that they know what the breasts will look like after the procedure. Options of dealing with shape changes will also be explored. It makes patients to approach the procedure with more confidence.
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