A mastectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the partial or complete removal of the breasts and surrounding tissues. Women who suffer from breast cancer that doesn't respond to chemotherapy or radiation therapy can opt to get a mastectomy. The type of mastectomy a woman needs depends on the type and stage of the breast cancer and her age and medical history. Typically, it takes between two to three hours to perform a regular mastectomy.
Radical
The most extensive type of mastectomy is the radical mastectomy, which involves the removal of the whole breast, as well as the areola, pectoral muscles (located under the breast), some fat tissue and the lymph nodes (located underneath the arm). This type of mastectomy is not performed as frequently as it was in the past. It is typically reserved for extreme cases where the breast cancer spreads to other muscles in the chest. The most commonly performed type of mastectomy is the modified radical mastectomy, which removes the entire breast, areola and most of the lymph nodes under the arm.
Simple
A simple mastectomy, also called total mastectomy, involves the removal of the entire breast, including the nipple area. In some cases, a sentinel lymph node biopsy might be required; it removes some of the lymph nodes around the breast.
Skin Sparing
Women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer can undergo a preventive measure called subcutaneous (nipple sparing) mastectomy, which involves the removal of the breast tissue but not the skin, areola or lymph nodes. A skin- sparing mastectomy (where 90 percent of the breast skin is left untouched) can be an option for patients undergoing reconstructive surgery immediately after the mastectomy.
Partial
Sometimes, the cancer is concentrated in a specific part of the breast. In such cases, the majority of the breast can be preserved by performing a partial (segmental) mastectomy, which only removes the cancerous part of the tissue.
A qaudrantectomy removes a quadrant or a quarter of the breast, the skin and some surrounding tissues. In addition, some lymph nodes might also be removed by an axillary node dissection. A lumpectomy (wide excision) removes a larger portion of the breast tissue than a qaudrantectomy.
Excisional Biopsy
For small tumors that don't exhibit signs of growth, an excisional biopsy might be enough. It involves removing the cancerous lesion in the breast and some of the surrounding healthy breast tissue. Further surgery may not be required if the excisional biopsy is successful.
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