Breast cancer care has become much more sophisticated over the past ten years. Patients often are amazed at the number of choices available to them at the time of diagnosis. Dr. Jaderborg and Dr. Buzzas strive to make sense of these options when discussing breast surgery with their patients and assist them to make the best choice for them.
Sentinel Node Biopsy
Sentinel Node Biopsy is one of the newer techniques that we use to stage breast cancer. It involves removal of one to four lymph nodes from the axilla for close examination, rather than removal of many axillary nodes and risking the complications that go along with that procedure. In her initial research with Sentinel Node Biopsy, she was delighted to find that relying soley upon SNB results would have prevented 68% of her patients from having an axillary dissection. This greatly decreases the morbidity associated with removal of so many axillary nodes.
Partial Breast Radiation
Partial Breast Radiaton is another new technique currently used in the treatment of breast cancer. It not only treats the actual lumpectomy site only (where most breast cancer recurrence happens), but also provides a shorter radiation course. Conventional whole breast radiation takes 6 weeks to complete, while partial breast radiation with a Mammosite balloon can be completed in only seven to ten days. To date, results have been encouraging.
Mastectomy
A mastectomy is the removal of breast tissue due to a cancerous or precancerous growth. The amount of tissue removed during a mastectomy procedure varies, and there are several types of mastectomies that can be performed. The type that is best for you depends on many factors, including the size and stage of the cancer, your preference and your particular anatomy.
Three of the most common mastectomy procedures are:
- Modified Radical Mastectomy - This entails removing the whole breast, its tissue, the nipple-areola and the lymph nodes found in the armpit.
- Simple Mastectomy - This involves the removal of only the breast tissue and sometimes the lymph nodes.
- Lumpectomy - This is the most conservative surgical procedure. It calls for the removal of only the tumor itself and the localized tissue, preserving most of the breast and its tissue.
Reconstruction Options
Immediate reconstruction is performed at the time of the mastectomy. Delayed reconstruction can be performed weeks, months or even years after a mastectomy. There are a few different methods that can be used with each of these, so please discuss these options with your physician.
Additional Resources
For more information regarding breast cancer and treatment, please visit the following websites.
Sara Fisher Breast Cancer Project
Breast Cancer.org
National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Page