Which kind of surgery is done for breast cancer?
Surgery for breast cancer can be divided into two parts- surgery for the breast and surgery for the axilla (axillary lymph glands)
Surgery for the breast:
1. Breast preserving operation- Tumor size, breast size, presence of more than one tumour in the breast and stage of the disease all help to determine if the breast can be preserved during surgery. If you are a candidate for breast preserving option and offered this option, you should know that the survival ( longevity of life) is not affected by preserving the breast and that it is a safe surgery. One must note that if you choose to have a breast preserving surgery, it must be followed up with radiation.
2. Mastectomy ( removal of the whole breast)- When it is not possible to save the breast, or the patient chooses to have her breast removed, then a mastectomy is done. The skin is put together after the surgery and there is no raw area. At the end of the surgery, there is a flat straight surgical scar.
3. Oncoplasty- Sometimes when a large area of tissue has to be removed during a breast conservation surgery, the gap to fill is large and just closing it as it is may give an ugly result. Therefore, tissue and fat from the neighbouring areas like the back or side fat or breast tissue itself is remoulded to fill in the gap and give a better outside.
4. Reconstruction- There are options to create a new breast with ones own tissue ( commonly the tummy fat) or with an implant ( made of silicon) to make a new breast after a mastectomy. This can either be done at the time of the first surgery itself or as a second surgery anytime in the future.
Surgery for the axilla- Surgery for the axilla is always part of the treatment for any breast cancer. If done with the mastectomy, there is no separate scar; but if done with breast conservation there may be a separate scar in the area of the armpit.
1. Sentinel lymph node biopsy- This is a procedure where the first set of lymph nodes draining the breast in the axilla are marked out by special techniques and they are removed and sent for testing. If cancer has spread to these lymph nodes, then an axillary clearance is usually done and if the nodes do not have cancer, then there is no further surgery done in the axilla. This all usually happens when one is under anaesthesia itself ( frozen section for the lymph nodes) and does not need to be done as a separate procedure.
2. Axillary clearance- This is a surgery to remove all the lymph nodes in the armpit and is also done in the same anaesthesia as the breast surgery. If we know before surgery that the lymph node is involved or if there was a positive node on sentinel lymph node biopsy then this procedure is performed.
At the end of a mastectomy and/or an axillary clearance, a drain is placed and these come out below the wound and are left in place for 7-10 days. They are meant to drain the fluid from the wound and this may be a little blood-tinged. Once the amount coming out reduces, the drain is removed.
Are there any alternatives besides surgery?
Till date, surgery is the only proven curative option for breast cancer.
How do I prepare myself for surgery?
The preparation is generally similar to any major surgery. Breathing exercises using the incentive spirometer should be started. Wherever needed, a sports bra, pocketed bra and appropriate clothing can be planned and taken to the hospital. Follow the anaesthetist’s advice regarding the continuation of medications if you are on any.
How major is surgery? What are the possible complications?
Surgery for breast cancer, both mastectomy and breast conservation surgery (even with oncoplastic procedures), although referred to as major surgeries do not usually have any serious complications.
The complications of these surgeries include:
- Wound Infection
- Flap necrosis
- Bleeding
- Numbness in the medial aspect of the arm and scar site
- Lymphedema
- Prolonged seroma
For how long do I stay in the hospital?
Most of the surgeries for breast cancer are done as a daycare procedure; that is you can get the surgery done in the morning and go home the same day. Sometimes you are asked to stay for one night just so that you can be monitored and then are sent home the next day morning.
Will I need any further treatment after surgery?
The decision about adjuvant treatment is based on the final histopathology report which will be available approximately 7-10 days following surgery. Depending on the report, the decision to give chemotherapy (with or without targeted therapy) is taken. Radiation is generally given if you have had a breast conservation surgery or if you have had a mastectomy, and the pathology report shows that the size is large or that your lymph nodes are positive. Hormone therapy (which is in the form of tablets) is given for 5 or ten years if you have a hormone-positive tumour.
What will be my survival after surgery? Are there any chances of cancer coming back?
Survival depends on the stage of the disease. The average 5-year survival for all stages after curative surgery and treatment for breast cancer is between 80-95% depending on the stage of cancer. As of date, there is no foolproof way of predicting which patients will have a recurrence and which patient will not.
Are there any special precautions I need to take to prevent cancer from coming back?
A good healthy lifestyle, prevention from weight gain and taking your medications regularly can all add to helping cancer from coming back.
How frequently should I follow up after surgery?
After completion of treatment, you will be advised to follow-up once in 3 months in the first year. Then the frequency will be reduced to once in 6 months for the next 4 years. Subsequent follow up will be once a year. Each year, you will be asked to do certain blood tests and an ultrasound of the abdomen. You will also be asked to do a mammogram yearly; if you have had a mastectomy, you will be asked to do a mammogram of the opposite breast and if you have had a conservation surgery then you will be asked to do a bilateral mammogram. It is similar to a routine master health check-up that people without cancer have yearly and any abnormality can then be investigated further.
Will I be able to adjust to this disease well?
It is only the duration of the treatment that everything may seem to be difficult and there may be small challenges along the way. The first few days of diagnosis are the hardest because you have to both accept what has been told to you and you have to make decisions quickly while your mind is still trying to process the information. Once you start the treatment process, things become easier and after the treatment, you can live a completely normal life and will be able to do almost everything that you were able to do before cancer. Many patients do well and have a full recovery.