The Surgical Side of Breast Cancer

At one time, very few people had heard of breast cancer. Then, in 1984, the popular television actress Ann Jillian underwent breast cancer surgery. Her surgery was successful and this raised awareness towards the condition and confidence in the procedure. However, there are still those who are understandably nervous about such an invasive surgical procedure.

No one wishes to undergo surgical procedures. Many people outright refuse to have knee surgery performed because of their fears. Instead, they opt to function with limited range of mobility. However, there are surgical procedures that are necessary because they can save people’s lives. Breast cancer surgery, for example, is often the only recourse for eliminating the presence of malignant tissue.

Granted, the singular form of the word surgery is inaccurate. There are three common breast cancer surgical procedures. These three are a lumpectomy, a mastectomy, and lymph node removal. There are significant differences between these procedures. A lumpectomy involves the removal of a cancerous tumor and a small amount of surrounding breast tissue. On the other hand, a mastectomy centers on the complete removal of all breast tissue. Lymph node surgery is employed when cancer spreads to the lymph nodes outside of the milk duct. Essentially, the entire lymph node is removed although there are variants of this surgery that is not as invasive.

But what should one expect prior to surgery? The process for undergoing this surgery is fairly straightforward. Prior to undergoing surgery, the physician will examine the patient’s complete medical history. This will be done to make sure that the surgery is performed as safely as possible. Also, the patient will be informed of how to prepare for the day of the surgery. Often, this involves limiting food and fluid intake.

Surprisingly, breast cancer surgery is often performed on an outpatient basis. That means the patient may be released the same day the surgery is performed depending upon the extent of the surgery. On the day the surgery is performed, the surgeon and the anesthesiologist to discuss the specifics of the procedure. This will, hopefully, bring the anxiety level of the patient down.

There are obviously a number of risks with breast cancer surgery as there is with any surgery. Internal bleeding, infections, and painful recovery are all potential problems. However, experienced health care practitioners understand how to handle such situations. As such, there is no reason to be overly fearful of complications.

Of course, the most nerve inducing aspect is waiting to see whether the results of the surgery are successful. The answer requires a pathology report and the report can take up to one week. Yes, this can be an interminable period to wait. It there was any consolation, it could be found in the high success rates of these surgeries.

 

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Source: http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/index.jsp