Mastectomy 0
Cancer of Breasts & Mastectomy:
Mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove partial or complete removal of breast in cases of advanced breast cancer patients.
Mastectomy is divided into 4 categories depending on the degree of cancer present and procedure adopted:
1. Subcutaneous mastectomy: The entire breast is excised except Nipple and areola, pigmented circle around the nipple.
2. Total Mastectomy: Excision of Total breast except lymph nodes or axillary nodes present in the arm
pit.
3. Modified Radical Mastectomy: Excision of Total Breast along with most of lymph nodes under the arm.
4. Radical mastectomy: Excision of the chest wall muscles also (pectorals) along with breast and axillary lymph nodes.
Operative Procedure:
This operation is conducted under General Anesthesia. The incision is made in the breast. Breast tissue is separated from the skin covering it. Glandular organ is removed. In cases requiring axillary dissection it is through same incision. Affected Lymph nodes are located and removed.
While stitching the wound one or two small plastic drains are left in the wound to drain blood and exudates present and prevent accumulation of fluids on the site of operation.
After observing the fluid collected the plastic drains are removed when there is decrease in fluid ozzing to the accepted level in the operated area usually within 2-3 days.
Many women are dischared with their drains intact and the same are removed on their follow up visit.
Considering the symmetric look the excised breast can be restructured by artificial implants or any other area self tissue before closing of the wound or at a later date.
Reconstruction of Breast is a decision between the doctor and patients and it’s timing is decided how the operation progresses.
Indications of Mastectomy:
It is usually the Breast Cancer present prompts the patient for Mastectomy. Mastectomy is an alternative to breast conservation surgery. The type of Mastectomy to be performed is based on the views of the surgeon and how the operation progresses and the involvement of only Mammary Gland or the Lymph nodes also, Size of the tumor viz a viz breast size.
Mastectomy is performed, when there is all over the breast ductal carcinoma. It is a stage when the cancer is in its initial stages and can result in to invasive cancer if not operated upon.
Prophylactic Mastectomy: as the name suggests it involves excision of one or both breasts in patients having a family history of Breast cancer. Prophylactic mastectomy should be performed genetic testing and psychiatric evaluation.
Subcutaneous or total mastectomy should be performed I highly susceptible patients to breast cancer. Such a surgery reduces the can be done. This surgery significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer in women having high genetic risk of breast cancer affliction or in women who have a positive family history of breast cancer.
Associated Risks:
Mastectomy is a safe surgery, most patients achieve recovery with no reported complications.
In common with all surgeries, there are risks. Like bleeding, infection, possible injury to nearby tissues.
Post-operative pain, soreness, presence of scar etc. in actual practice complications in mastectomy are very rare.
There is general anesthesia risk in patients having breathing and heart problems.
Detection of breast cancer in early stages initiation of appropriate treatment increases the life span of the patient.