Breast Cancer Surgery

Breast cancer surgery can be a critical first step for many patients battling breast cancer. This procedure involves the removal of cancerous tissue from the breast to prevent it from spreading and to help ease further future treatments if needed. Facing a breast cancer diagnosis can be a deeply challenging moment in anyone's life, marked by uncertainty and fear about the future. If you're armed with knowledge about your breast cancer treatment options, you may be better positioned to make informed decisions about your healthcare journey.

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer happens when breast cells start to grow out of control. If left untreated, cancer can grow bigger or even spread to other parts of the body, infiltrating organs and impairing their function. Breast cancer cells can spread when cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph system and are then transported to other parts of the body. Most breast lumps are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. These benign tumors are abnormal growths within the breast but are not life-threatening and do not spread to other parts of the body. However, some benign breast lumps can raise the risk of developing breast cancer in the future. Therefore, it's important for any breast lump or change in the breast to be examined by a healthcare professional.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Early-stage breast cancer may not show signs or symptoms. It's important to be aware of and monitor your own body for potential signs of breast cancer. Check for these signs and consult with a doctor for proper diagnosis:

• A mass or lump in the breast
• Abnormal breast changes, such as swelling breast, thickening skin or reddening skin
• Nipple abnormalities, such as spontaneous or bloody discharge, scaliness or retraction (nipple pulling inward)

A mammogram is an X-ray image to help doctors look for early signs of cancer or other abnormalities in the breast. Here's how a mammogram is usually done:

1. You will stand in front of a specialized X-ray machine during the mammogram procedure.
2. A medical technologist will place your breast on a flat plate.
3. A parallel plate will firmly compress your breast to hold it still while the X-ray takes images.
4. These steps will be repeated to capture a side view of the breast.
5. Your other breast will be X-rayed in the same way.

The entire procedure may take about 20 minutes. More images may be needed for some women with larger breasts or implants. Your breasts may be more sensitive if you are about to have or currently have your period. While it’s normal to feel pressure during a mammogram, inform your technologist immediately if you feel any pain.

Your healthcare provider may also suggest you schedule a mammogram if you have any of the following:

• Personal or family history of breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer
• Previous imaging showing unusual findings
• Biopsy showing benign mass
• Implant removal or planning to have them removed

The following may increase a person’s risk of developing breast cancer:

• Aging, as breast cancer development risk increases with age. Most breast cancer cases are diagnosed after 50 years of age.
• Genetic mutations such as the inherited mutated genes BRCA 1 and BRCA2.
• Reproductive history of starting menstruation before 12 years of age and having menopause after 55 exposes women to hormones for much longer, increasing their risk of breast cancer.
• Having dense breasts can sometimes make it hard for doctors to see tumors on a mammogram.
• The presence of non-cancerous breast diseases such as lobular carcinoma or atypical hyperplasia.
• Personal history of breast cancer can put a person at risk of developing breast cancer a second time
• Family history of ovarian or breast cancer
• Previous radiation therapy treatment

How Is Breast Cancer Treated?

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, your healthcare provider will discuss your treatment options with you. Your treatment plan will depend on a range of factors, including your cancer stage, overall health, risk factors, personal preferences and many more. Breast cancer treatments can be systemic or local:

Local Treatments

Breast cancer surgery and radiation are considered local treatments because they target the tumor without affecting other parts of the body. Some patients may need other treatment types before, after, or both, depending on their breast cancer type and stage.

Systemic Treatments

Drugs for breast cancer treatment are considered systemic because they can travel throughout the body to reach cancer cells. Some of these drugs can be taken orally or injected into the bloodstream or muscle. Systemic treatment options include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted-drug therapy and immunotherapy.

Breast Cancer Surgery Types

At Nacogdoches Medical Partners, we discuss all treatment options for our patients, including the treatment’s goals and possible side effects. We encourage our patients to ask anything if they are unsure and seek a second opinion to help them gather more information about their chosen treatment plan. The type of breast cancer surgery a patient may have depends on:

• The cancer size, its location or whether it has spread to other areas
• If the patient has had any surgery in the chest area
• Patient’s overall health, fitness level and personal preferences

Lumpectomy

Breast cancer lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery) is also known as a wide local incision. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the cancer and a bit of healthy tissue around it, aiming to leave behind as much healthy breast tissue as possible. Patients who undergo this procedure usually need radiotherapy after.

Mastectomy

Some patients may benefit from having their whole breast removed through breast cancer mastectomy. A simple mastectomy involves removing the breast tissue along with the nipple and some of the skin around it. This procedure does not require reconstruction, so the patient ends up with a flat chest area. Some patients may need radiotherapy after mastectomy.

After mastectomy, some patients may want to undergo breast reconstruction, which aims to rebuild the breast’s shape and look after breast surgery. Other mastectomy types that require immediate reconstruction include:

• Skin-sparing mastectomy – breast tissue and nipple removal while keeping most of the skin.
• Nipple and skin-sparing mastectomy – breast tissue removal while retaining most of the surrounding skin, nipple and areola.
• Skin-reducing mastectomy – breast tissue removal along with some of the skin.

Not all women choose to undergo breast reconstruction. Others choose to go flat or have a flat closure, while others opt for breast prostheses. Talk to your healthcare provider about your post-breast cancer surgery options.

Lymph Node Removal

Some breast cancer cells can break away from the breast tissue and often spread first to the lymph nodes in the armpit. Your doctor will check the armpit lymph nodes to see if they look normal. Otherwise, lymph node removal may be recommended along with breast cancer surgery if cancer has already spread in the nodes.

Find a Breast Cancer Surgeon

At Nacogdoches Medical Partners in Nacogdoches, TX, we understand the importance of ensuring you feel supported, understood and cared for every step of the way. Our dedicated multidisciplinary team is here to offer compassionate care, ensuring that the prospect of your possible surgery does not have to be daunting.