Surgery

Surgery is performed to remove the cancerous tumor and any surrounding tissue that has been affected.

Types of surgery:

  • Lumpectomy- Removal of breast cancer and some normal tissue around it. Lymph nodes may also be removed.
Lumpectomy A: Tumor B: Tissue Removed

Lumpectomy
A: Tumor
B: Tissue Removed

  • Simple mastectomy- Removal of as much of the breast as possible.This is the most common form of surgery for breast cancer. This surgery is typically done for women who have multiple or large areas of ductal carcinoma in situ or to prevent breast cancer.
Simple Mastectomy A: Tissue removed B,C,D: Axillary lymph nodes

Simple Mastectomy
A: Tissue removed
B,C,D: Axillary lymph nodes

  • Skin sparing mastectomy- The breast is removed similar to the simple mastectomy but the skin over the breast is spared. The nipple and areola may also be spared. This is most commonly done when breast reconstruction therapy is planned immediately.
A: Tissue Removed B: Spared Skin

A: Tissue Removed
B: Spared Skin

  • Modified radical mastectomy- Removal of the breast along with the lymph nodes under the arm and often the lining over the chest muscles. This is commonly done for people with invasive breast cancer.
A: Tissue Removed B,C,D: Axillary Lymph Nodes

A: Tissue Removed
B,C,D: Axillary Lymph Nodes

  • Radical mastectomy- Removal of the breast, both chest muscles, lymph nodes, and some other fat and skin. This is not frequently done and is typically only used when the cancer has spread to the chest muscles.
A: Tissue Removed B,C,D,E,F: Lymph nodes

A: Tissue Removed
B,C,D,E,F: Lymph nodes

  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy- Blue dye or a radioactive substance is introduced to the  area of the tumor and the lymph nodes that takes up the substance are removed. This is typically done in women who have lymph nodes that aren’t palpable from the armpit.
  • Axillary lymph node dissection- Removal of the lymph nodes under the arm to determine if they contain cancerous cells.
  • Cryotherapy- Extreme cold is used to freeze and destroy cancerous cells (experimental only).

Breast reconstruction can be done after surgery to rebuild a breast. It normally requires several stages and can be started at the time of mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or at some point after the mastectomy (delayed reconstruction). It can be done using an implant or a tissue flap from another part of your body.

Referenced:

Chwistek, M. (2014, August 1). Breast Reconstruction. Retrieved September 14, 2015.

LaRusso, L. (2014, December 1). Breast Cancer in Women (M. Abouzied, Ed.). Retrieved September 14, 2015.

What Is Lumpectomy? (2015, March 4). Retrieved September 14, 2015.