Description of the procedure
A mastectomy is the surgical removal one or more breasts. Mastectomies are performed by surgeons in a hospital operating room and are done under general anesthesia for the treatment or prevention of breast cancer.
Not all women with breast cancer require a mastectomy. Breast-conserving surgery, or lumpectomy, combined with radiation therapy, is equivalent treatment to mastectomy for many women with breast cancer. Discuss these options with your doctor.
Example of two types of mastectomies, a total mastectomy (left) and a modified radical mastectomy (right) - Courtesy of the Canadian Cancer Society
When should this procedure be performed?
Doctors perform this procedure as required to treat or prevent breast cancer. The procedure is permanent. Be sure you are comfortable with the procedure and how it will impact your life. Ask your doctor or health care professional questions and discuss it with your partner before the procedure is performed.
Why is this procedure performed?
Mastectomies are performed to treat breast cancer. Rarely, they may be performed to prevent breast cancer in certain high-risk people. There are a number of situations where a mastectomy may be the most appropriate treatment option, including:
- several cancerous tumors present in different areas of the breast
- pregnancy, since radiation and chemotherapy can harm the fetus
- certain medical conditions where radiation therapy may not be tolerated
- a strong family history of breast cancer
- a genetic abnormality that increases your risk of the breast cancer returning
- breast cancer that is widespread and makes up a large portion of the breast
- cancer just beneath or involving the nipple
- previous radiation therapy to the breast area
- circumstances (personal, financial, or geographic) that make it undesirable or difficult to undergo radiation therapy
The decision to have a mastectomy is one that should be made after careful discussion with your doctor. Important determining factors include the size of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, and if so, where it has spread.
Are there any risks and precautions I should know about?
Certain risks are common to all surgery and every time a general anesthetic is used. These include side effects of the anesthetic, breathing problems, infection, bleeding, and death.
Although mastectomy is generally considered safe, it does have some risk of side effects or complications. The most common side effects or complications are:
- nerve damage resulting in muscle weakness
- numbness, tingling, and skin sensitivity
- infection
- scar formation
- swelling of the arm resulting from poor lymph fluid drainage due to lymph node removal (also known as lymphedema). Lymphedema can be a chronic condition that requires ongoing treatment.