Comprehensive Breast Care With
Breast Cancer Treatment

Lumpectomy is a surgical procedure to remove only a portion of the breast containing cancerous tissues while preserving the rest of the healthy breasts.

Radiation therapy is usually provided after a lumpectomy to remove any remaining cancer cells left in the breast to minimise the risk of cancer returning.

The entire breast tissue is surgically removed from the breasts.

The different types of mastectomy include:

• Total Mastectomy

  Involves removing the entire breast, including the nipple, the circular area around the nipple (areola) and most of the overlying skin. Usually performed when the cancer has not spread beyond the breast.

• Radical Mastectomy

  Similar to total mastectomy. However, the chest muscles under the breast and lymph nodes are also removed. This surgery is advised when the cancer has spread to the chest muscles.

• Skin-Sparing Mastectomy

  
  The entire breast tissues, nipple and areola are removed, but most of the skin over the breast remains intact. It is usually performed if a breast reconstruction surgery is planned immediately after mastectomy.

  However, it may not be recommended if the tumour is too large or near the skin surface.

• Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy

  
  Similar to skin-sparing mastectomy. However, the breast tissues are only removed up to the nipple and areola. The skin of the nipple and areola are preserved, and the tissues under and around them are removed.

  If the tissues removed turn out to be cancerous, the skin of the nipple and areola must also be removed. A breast reconstruction surgery is done after this surgery.

A breast reconstruction surgery is performed to restore the breast to its natural form as much as possible, using an implant or the patient’s own tissue. This procedure is typically performed after a mastectomy.

• Implant-Based Reconstruction

  • Breast implants such as silicone or saline are used to restore the shape and volume of the breast.
  • Usually performed in the same operation, immediately after a mastectomy.

• Tissue-Based Reconstruction

  • The patient’s own body tissues are used for the surgery to give the new breast a more natural appearance and texture.
  • The tissues can be taken from the tummy, back or buttocks.

3 – 4 weeks for lumpectomy & mastectomy.

Note: Recovery time differs for each patient, depending on the severity of cancer and the extent of surgery.

6 – 8 weeks for those who opt for Breast Reconstruction after their mastectomy.

However, depending on the type of reconstruction done, it may take longer to recover.

Radiation therapy may be required a few weeks after your procedure.

Depending on your condition, other types of treatment may include:

• Hormone therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy

Breasts After Lumpectomy

• Your breast should be very similar to what it looked like before surgery. However, depending on the size of the lump, your breast may look smaller.
• You will also have scars at the surgical site.

Breasts After Mastectomy

• You will have a flat chest on the side where your breast was removed.
• You will also have scars at the surgical site.

Breasts After Mastectomy with Reconstruction Surgery

• You will have a breast-like shape, but it will not look like it did before surgery.
• Scars will form at the site where the skin is stitched to create a new breast-like shape.