In the United States, breast cancer occurs in about 1 in 8 women. (13%) A woman's risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed, however about 90% of breast cancers are not due to heredity but to genetic abnormalities that happened due to agin or ther reasons.
Surgery is usually the first line of attack against breast cancer:
Lumpectomy/Partial Mastectomy
Lumpectomy, alson known as breast conserving surgery, is the removal of only the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue. Often, some of the lymph nodes under the arm are removed. It is usually followed by radiation therapy to destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the area. Many patients will be referred to get an MRI prior to surgery. The MRI imaging exam may show other lesions in the same breat, details that are not apparent with a mammogram or ultrasound.
Mammosite Placement
After the surgeon removes the tumor, an uninflated MammoSite balloon is gently placed inside the tumor cavity through a small incision. A portion of the catheter will remain outside of the breast. The MammoSite balloon can be placed either during your lumpectomy surgery or up to 10 weeks after surgery in a separate procedure. Through this balloon, radiation can be given more quickly.
Simple (Total) Mastectomy
This is removal of the whole breast. A simple mastectomy may be combined with a sentinel node biopsy or node dissection. No muscles are removed from beneath the breast. A simple or total masectomy is appropriate for women with multiple or large areas of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and for women seeking prophylactic mastectomies-that is, breast removal to prevent breast cancer from occurring.
Modified Radical Mastectomy
This includes removal of the breast, nipple and some of the lymph nodes, sparing the muscle in the chest wall. Many patients who elect for this surgery will do so to make sure lymph nodes can be examined. Examining the lymph nodes helps to identify whether cancer cells may have spread beyond the breast.
Radical Mastectomy
A surgeon removes the breast, the chest muscles, all of the lymph nodes under the arm and some additional fat and skin. For many years, this operation was considered standard for women with breast cancer, but it is very rarely used today and only in cases of advanced cancer in which the cancer has spread to the chest muscles.
Needle Biopsy
Needle biopsy are procedures performed to identify the cause of a lump or mass in the breast. During the procedure, the doctor inserts a small needle, guided by X-ray or other imaging techniques, into the abnormal area. A sample of tissue is removed and given to a pathologist who looks at it under a microscope to determine what the abnormality is -- for example, cancer, a noncancerous tumor, infection, or scar. In addition to offering quick results without significant discomfort and scarring, both fine needle aspirations and core needle biopsy give you the opportunity to discuss treatment option with your doctor before having any surgery.
Sentinel Node Biopsy
For breast cancer patients who are facing a lumpectomy, post surgical irradiation therapy can be just as important as the actual procedure.This procedure involves locating the few lymph nodes near the site of cancer that would receive lymph fluid drainage from the tumor itself. If any tumor cells have moved from the original area involved, those lymph nodes would most likely hold them. These lymph nodes are found using a radioactive tracer and blue dye. With sentinel node dissection, a surgeon may only have to remove one of lymph node or a small cluster of to or three nodes. Sentinel node biopsy is mostly recommended for women who have early stage disease, with low risk of lymph node involvement.
Breast Reconstruction
The general surgeons work closely with plastic surgeons to perform breast reconstruction. Often, plastic surgery can be done, or begun, at the same time the breast surgery is done. Reconstruction can be done using implants or tissue transfers from the stomach or back. The reconstruction process may still require additional steps or surgeries before it is complete. while reconstruction can restore breast sensation. It is best for the breast surgeon and plastic surgeon to work together to come up with the best possible plan for reconstruction.
