When you find out you have breast cancer and your doctor tells you about a mastectomy, it's normal to feel scared, shocked, and sad. "What do I do now?", "Will this hurt?", "What will my life be like after the surgery?" You may have many questions running through your mind. All of these feelings are valid. So, let's talk about this openly and without fear. When you are fully informed about this surgery, your fears can be greatly reduced.
What exactly is a mastectomy?
Simply put, a mastectomy is a type of breast cancer surgery that involves surgically removing the tissue from your breast. Most often, the entire tissue of one or both breasts is removed.
This is a major treatment for many types and stages of breast cancer. Also, some people are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, for example due to genetic reasons. For such people, this surgery can also be done as a preventive measure before the cancer develops.
The decision to have this surgery is a very personal one. As such, it is normal to have mixed feelings about it. While you may feel like you need to have the surgery quickly to get rid of the cancer, you may also feel sad and regretful about losing one of your breasts. These are all normal and understandable reactions.
How is cancer treated with a mastectomy?
If you have breast cancer, the best way to stop the cancer cells from spreading to other parts of the body is to remove them. A mastectomy removes all of the breast tissue that may contain cancer cells. This ensures that no cancer cells are left behind .
Some of the main types of breast cancer treated with this surgery are:
- Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
- Paget's Disease of the Breast
- Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
This surgery can usually be done at any stage of the cancer before it reaches Stage IV. Stage IV is when the cancer has spread (metastatic) to other parts of the body outside the breast. At this point, removing the breast alone may not be enough to stop the cancer from spreading.
What are the types of mastectomy surgeries?
These surgeries are divided into several types depending on the amount of tissue removed. Depending on your situation, your doctor will discuss with you and decide which type is best for you.
| Type of surgery | Simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Partial Mastectomy (Lumpectomy) | This does not remove the entire breast. Only the cancerous tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it are removed. This is a good option for early-stage cancer. |
| Total Mastectomy (Simple Mastectomy) | In this procedure, all of the breast tissue is removed, but the pectoral muscles underneath the breast are not removed. |
| Double Mastectomy (Bilateral Mastectomy) | If there is cancer in both breasts, or if there is a high risk of cancer in one breast spreading to the other, both breasts are removed at the same time. |
| Skin-sparing / Nipple-sparing Mastectomy | Although breast tissue is removed, the skin and/or nipple are left behind. These can be used if the breast is later reconstructed. |
| Modified Radical Mastectomy | Here, all of the breast tissue and the axillary lymph nodes are removed, as breast cancer spreads to these nodes first. |
| Prophylactic Mastectomy | This is done with the aim of preventing cancer. This surgery is recommended for people who have a very high risk of developing cancer due to certain genetic mutations (e.g. BRCA, p53 ). |
How do we prepare before surgery?
Your doctor will explain all the details about the type of surgery you will have, whether or not you will have breast reconstruction afterwards, and the recovery time. You can plan your daily activities accordingly.
Things to prepare:
- Quitting smoking: If you smoke, you should definitely quit. Smoking can impair blood circulation and delay wound healing.
- Fasting: Your doctor will advise you to avoid eating or drinking for a few hours before surgery. Follow those instructions exactly.
- Planning for your hospital stay: You will need to stay in the hospital for a day or two. Arrange for someone to take care of your household and work tasks during that time.
- Someone to help you at home: It's important to have someone to help you during the first few days after surgery. It can be difficult to do things like lift weights or lift your arm, so it's a great help to have someone to help you prepare meals and do household chores.
What happens during the surgery?
On the day of the surgery, you will be given general anesthesia (`General Anesthesia`). This means you will not feel anything, you will be asleep.
1. Anesthesia: You are put completely to sleep.
2. Surgery: The surgeon removes the breast tissue and, if necessary, the armpit lumps.
3. Biopsy: The removed tissue is sent to the laboratory to check for cancer cells.
4. Reconstruction: If you have decided to have breast reconstruction, the surgeon may start the procedure right away or it may be done on a later date.
5. Stitching the wound: Finally, the wound is stitched and a temporary drain is placed to drain any fluid that collects inside the wound. This drain will need to be left in place for about a week or two.
What are the possible complications and risks?
Like any surgery, a mastectomy can cause minor complications, but these are often manageable.
Possible complications in the early stages:
- Wound infection: This is a very rare occurrence, and doctors are very concerned about it.
- Hematoma: A collection of blood under the wound. This is also very rare.
- Seroma: A swelling caused by fluid accumulating inside the wound.
- Loss of blood supply to the tissue (Flap Necrosis): If the blood supply to the cut tissue is cut off, the tissue can die. In this case, the doctor will remove the dead tissue and cover the area with skin taken from another area.
Possible complications later:
- Post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS): Nerve damage can cause symptoms such as tingling, burning, itching, or severe pain. This can be treated with medication.
- Lymphedema: If the lymphatic system is damaged during armpit hair removal, lymph fluid can accumulate in the arm and cause swelling. Physiotherapy and massage can help manage these symptoms.
Recovery time and beyond
You will need to stay in the hospital for about a day after the surgery. It will take about three weeks for the wound to heal completely. During that time, the doctor and nurses will teach you how to keep the wound clean and care for the drain.
During the first few weeks , you may feel tired, sore, and stiff in your arm, shoulder, and chest . It will be difficult to do things like lift weights or raise your arm overhead. So get plenty of rest. Painkillers can help control the pain. Your doctor will tell you about simple exercises to do to help relieve the stiffness. Doing these exercises is very important to regaining the function of your arm.
It takes some time for the nerves to heal, so you may experience some numbness and tingling in your chest for a few months. This is normal.
While your body heals, give your mind time to heal as well. Talking about the feelings that come with this experience, meeting with a counselor or a support group with others who have gone through the same experience as you can be very helpful.
Take-Home Message
- Mastectomy is a very effective treatment for breast cancer. Don't be afraid of it.
- Being well informed about the surgery and the process involved can help reduce your fear and uncertainty.
- Preparing well before surgery will make the healing process easier. It is essential to avoid smoking.
- It takes time to recover. Give your body and mind rest. Follow your doctor's exercise instructions exactly.
- If you have any concerns, such as pain, swelling, or signs of infection (redness, fever), let your doctor know right away. Remember, you are not alone.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න