Breast cancer
A diagnosis of breast cancer can be frightening and confusing. There can be a lot of information to take in and it it feels as though you suddenly have to make all sorts of decisions without knowing what is the best thing to do.
We are here to help. We will guide you through your diagnosis and explain all the options available, helping you to decide on the right option for you. Click here
to see our videos with lots of useful information.
Most breast cancers are suitable for wide local excision - removal of the tumour with a margin of healthy tissue. If the cancer is small or difficult to feel, a wire or seed may be used to aid removal of the right area. Sometimes a second surgery is required to ensure all the cancer cells are adequately removed.
Mastectomy
Sometimes it is necessary to remove all the breast tissue to adequately treat breast cancer. Many women choose to have a breast reconstruction, which can often be performed at the same time as the mastectomy. It is often possible to preserve your own skin and nipple. However, some women choose or are advised to "go flat". This is called a "simple mastectomy" and leaves scars across the bottom of your chest. Many women choose to wear an external prosthesis in a special post mastectomy bra.
A sentinel lymph node biopsy removes a few targeted lymph nodes from the arm pit to check for any evidence of cancer cells spreading. Most women with breast cancer need this check. If cancer cells have spread, you may need further treatment to your armpit, in the form of further surgery (see below) or radiotherapy.
Sometimes it is necessary to remove most of the lymph glands from your armpit to ensure all the cancer is removed and you have the best possible prognosis. This may be performed at the same time as your breast surgery or as a separate procedure. Many women worry about lymphoedema (arm swelling) after this operation. We only perform ALND when it is necessary and even if you do get arm swelling there are lots of measures which can be taken to minimise it’s effect on your everyday life.
This operation uses breast reduction techniques to remove the breast cancer and maintain or even improve the shape of the breast. Many women having this procedure like to have the healthy breast treated as well to stay balanced. This technique can allow larger tumours to be removed without having a mastectomy.
LICAP
A Lateral InterCostal Artery Perforator flap can be used to replace some of the breast tissue removed during a wide local excision. This can be a good option to maintain the shape of the breast.
EDI: mybreast
