| However before any operation takes place the | | | | In some cases a patient who has had breast surgery |
| surgeon will talk to you and discuss with you the | | | | for cancer may need to under go radiotherapy |
| most appropriate type of surgery for your particular | | | | afterwards and this is particular true for those who |
| case of breast cancer. | | | | have either a lumpectomy or Segmentectomy |
| Breast Cancer Awareness Scarf | | | | surgery. This lowers the risk of that patient having |
| It should also be remembered that no surgery will | | | | their cancer returning as it will hopefully kill off the |
| take place prior to you consenting to it. | | | | rest of cancer cells if any left after the surgery has |
| Where breast surgery is concerned the type of | | | | taken place. Whilst in other cases patients who have |
| surgery that will be performed depends on the size | | | | had a mastectomy may find that they are having |
| of the cancer in your breast, whether it has spread | | | | radiotherapy to the lymph nodes above the collar |
| to any other parts of your body and also personal | | | | bone to make sure that all cancerous cells have been |
| preference. | | | | removed. Normally the surgeon will discuss what kind |
| However, if your cancer has already been diagnosed | | | | of treatment you will have with the radiotherapist |
| then your surgeon will talk to you about the type of | | | | once the results from the surgery are back. |
| surgery that you will need. Although there may be | | | | Unfortunately not radiotherapy treatment can be |
| times when the surgeon can not make a decision on | | | | planned until after the operation has been carried out. |
| what type of surgery he carries out as they do not | | | | There are many reasons as to why a surgeon will |
| have a definite diagnosis on the type of cancer that | | | | recommend a particular kind of breast surgery, but |
| you have. Therefore they may need to carry out a | | | | they will try their utmost to follow a patient’s |
| small operation to remove some of the lump in order | | | | wishes. In some cases some women would like to |
| to examine under a microscope before taking the | | | | keep their breast at all costs, whilst others may |
| rest out. | | | | prefer to have a mastectomy (because they feel |
| The types of breast surgery that you may have are | | | | that once the breast is gone the cancer will be gone |
| as follows: | | | | also) or it is because the do not wish to have |
| 1. Mastectomy - Removal of the whole breast. | | | | radiotherapy. In fact a great deal of research has |
| 2. Lumpectomy or Wide Local Excision - Where only | | | | been carried out and has proved that there is no |
| the lump is removed from the breast.* | | | | difference in the outcome whether a patient has a |
| 3. Segmentectomy - This where just part of the | | | | mastectomy or conservative surgery with |
| breast is removed.* | | | | radiotherapy instead. In fact it has been found that |
| Lung Cancer Secrets Revealed Click here | | | | both forms of treatment work equally well in treating |
| *These second two options are also known as | | | | breast cancer. |
| conservative surgery. | | | | |