Breast surgery procedures can range from cosmetic procedures to reduce, enlarge or lift the breasts to surgeries to remove cancerous or diseased tissue, such as a mastectomy. Cosmetic procedures can also be used to improve the appearance of the breast after a mastectomy or other breast surgery. Other surgical procedures include diagnostic surgeries, such as biopsies.
Breast Cancer Surgery
For some patients, surgery is used to remove cancerous tissue from the breast and surrounding areas. The goal is to remove all of the cancerous tissue, or at least as much as possible. Common breast cancer surgery techniques include:
- Lumpectomy: a lumpectomy is used to remove cancerous tissue and a margin of healthy tissue from the breast while preserving as much of the patient’s breast tissue as possible. The goal is to retain a normal appearance of the breast after the surgery.
- Partial mastectomy: During this procedure, the surgeon removes more tissue than with a lumpectomy, resulting in a partial loss of the breast.
- Total mastectomy: With a total mastectomy, the entire breast is removed while leaving the lymph nodes intact.
- Radical mastectomy: With this procedure, the surgeon removes the entire breast along with the lymph nodes under the arm and the chest wall muscles under the breast. This procedure is not commonly performed today as most surgeons opt for a modified radical mastectomy instead.
- Modified radical mastectomy: This procedure is similar to a radical mastectomy in that the surgeon removes the entire breast and the lymph nodes under the arm. However, instead of removing the chest wall muscle, the surgeon only removes the lining of the muscle. This procedure has been shown to be just as effective and less disfiguring than a radical mastectomy.
There is a current debate in the United states over the best time to begin screening mammograms for breast cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services (USPTF) has recommended that the biennial screening mammography for women should be done between the ages of 50 to 74 years. The recommendation among other health experts has not changed, including the American Cancer Society and the American College of Surgeons . They continue to recommend that women should begin having annual mammograms at age 40, or earlier if they are at higher risk. The decision when to start regular, biennial screening mammography should be a result of your individual discussion with your physician.