| v> | | | | the number of cancers in the breast. Usually, |
| | | | mastectomy is required for multifocal cancer |
| Once you have been diagnosed with breast | | | | (cancer discovered in two or more locations in the |
| cancer, usually treatment starts first with | | | | same breast) |
| surgery. There are generally two components | | | | At the same time as the breast operation, |
| to the operation: 1) the breast, and 2) the axilla | | | | surgery in the axilla also is carried out for invasive |
| (armpit). | | | | (or infiltrating) breast cancer, as well as in selected |
| Once you have been diagnosed with breast | | | | cases of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ). This is |
| cancer, usually treatment starts first with | | | | done to determine whether the breast cancer has |
| surgery. There are generally two components | | | | spread to the lymph nodes in the axilla. In |
| to the operation: 1) the breast, and 2) the axilla | | | | general, there are two choices: 1) sentinel node |
| (armpit). | | | | resection, or 2) axillary node dissection. In |
| In the breast, there are two choices: 1) | | | | sentinel node resection, the surgeon maps the |
| lumpectomy (removing the cancer lump and | | | | lymphatic drainage of the breast cancer to the |
| some surrounding tissue), or 2) mastectomy | | | | first lymph node that receives this lymph, i.e. the |
| (removing the entire breast). Just a quarter of a | | | | sentinel node(s). Only a few (1-3) nodes are then |
| century ago, almost all patients had mastectomy, | | | | usually removed. In axillary node dissection, |
| even if their breast cancer is small. But over the | | | | more lymph nodes are resected, usually 8-25. |
| past few decades, it has been demonstrated that | | | | Sentinel node resection is a good choice for small |
| for small cancers, lumpectomy followed by | | | | early cancer that is unlikely to have spread to the |
| radiation treatment is just as good as | | | | axilla. When the suspicion for cancer already in |
| mastectomy. Now, small is a relative | | | | lymph nodes is high, then full axillary node |
| term. The goal of a lumpectomy is that the | | | | dissection should be performed. |
| breast would still look like a breast after all the | | | | The above are only general guidelines. No two |
| treatment is done. In someone with small | | | | breast cancer patients are exactly alike, and |
| breasts, a small cancer may occupy a | | | | therefore the decision making process is different |
| significant portion of her breast. An adequate | | | | and unique for each individual person. Regardless |
| lumpectomy in this case may result in an | | | | of any one else’s advice, you should make |
| unacceptable cosmetic outcome, and the patient | | | | the choice that you personally will be able to live |
| may actually prefer having mastectomy with | | | | with for the rest of your life. |
| plastic surgery reconstruction. Another factor is | | | | |