What Is a Mastectomy?

There are several different types of mastectomy available, depending on the type of breast cancer being treated.

Mastectomy is a surgery to remove one or both breasts as a way to prevent or treat breast cancer.

If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, mastectomy may be the right treatment for you.

If your cancer is not widespread, a lumpectomy — where only the cancerous tissue is removed — may be an option. Discuss with your doctor the right treatment for you.

Some women may want to consider a preventative mastectomy if they have high rates of breast cancer in their families, especially if they are known carriers of the BRAC1 or BRAC2 genes.

How to Prepare for Mastectomy

• Attend all of your pre-op appointments.
• Make sure you understand which type of surgery you will be having.
• Make sure your doctor knows about all medications, vitamins, and dietary supplements that you use; ask your doctor if you need to discontinue any of them prior to surgery.
• Ask your doctor when you should stop eating and drinking; most surgeries require you to stop about 8 to 12 hours in advance.
• Be prepared to spend a night or two in the hospital.

You will need to decide if you want to have breast reconstruction surgery done at the same time as the mastectomy.

A plastic surgeon will reconstruct your breast using:

• Breast expanders with saline or silicone implants
• Your body's own tissue
• A combination of tissue reconstruction and implants

What Happens During a Mastectomy?

You will be under general anesthesia.

Your surgeon will perform one of the following four types of mastectomy on one or both breasts:

Total or simple mastectomy: The surgeon removes your breast tissue, nipple, and areola.

The muscles beneath the breast are not removed.

Subcutaneous mastectomy (or nipple-sparing mastectomy): The entire breast is removed, but not your nipple or areola.

Modified radical mastectomy: The entire breast is removed along with some of the lymph nodes in your underarm.

The muscles beneath the breast are not removed.

Radical mastectomy: Your entire breast, all of the lymph nodes in your underarms and the chest muscles are removed.

Mastectomy Risks

As with any operation, there are risks associated with a mastectomy.

Risks for mastectomy include:

• Scabbing or blistering along the incision
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Pain
• Shoulder pain and stiffness
• Swelling of the arm and hand on the same side that the breast was removed (lymphedema)
• Numbness of arm, back, or chest wall
• Thick scar tissue
• A collection of blood along the incision (hematoma)

Recovery

Most women stay in the hospital for at least one night, or longer for a radical mastectomy.

You will have pain and be given a prescription pain reliever.

If you had drains inserted to remove fluid, your healthcare provider will show you how to empty them.

Follow your doctor's instructions regarding care of the dressing, stitches, or steri-strips on the incision.

Be sure to know what symptoms you should report to the doctor.

Ask your doctor when you can drive, resume physical activity, and how much weight you can lift with the arm on the side of the mastectomy.

If you've been given exercises to do, make sure you follow the directions carefully.

You will need to discuss your follow-up care with your doctor.

It may include:

• Radiation
• Hormone therapy
• Breast reconstruction (if it was not done at time of surgery). You may opt to wear a mastectomy bra designed to hold a breast prosthesis.
• Meeting with a support group

Sources:

• Mastectomy (MedlinePlus)
• Test and Procedures: Mastectomy (Mayo Clinic)

Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com