There is no way around it: Mastectomy surgery—the surgical removal of one or both breasts—is a big deal. This major procedure is performed on more than 100,000 women in the United States each year. Despite its prevalence, however, many women do not know what to expect in the days and weeks afterward. Whether performed by… Continue reading 5 Things to Expect After a Mastectomy
Tag: mastectomy
Considerations for Having a Preventive Mastectomy
While all women are at risk for breast cancer, particularly those over 50 years old, there are particular factors that considerably raise the risk for women at any age. Understanding and becoming aware of these factors allows those at high risk to explore their options for reducing their risk. The most common risk factor is… Continue reading Considerations for Having a Preventive Mastectomy
Restoring Breast Sensation After Mastectomy
Each year in the United States, more than 100,000 women have mastectomies. Advances in surgical techniques today offer women the hope of a soft, warm breast that may look similar and feel much like her original breast, especially if she undergoes natural tissue breast reconstruction. As a result, more and more women now choose breast… Continue reading Restoring Breast Sensation After Mastectomy
Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy: How to Decide
While coping with the emotional turmoil that follows a breast cancer diagnosis, a woman must absorb a seemingly vast amount of information that will help her make important decisions about the treatment options available to her. Many women with early-stage cancer learn that while surgery will be needed, the decision of whether to attempt to… Continue reading Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy: How to Decide
Putting a New Nipple on a Reconstructed Breast
More and more women who have lost a breast to mastectomy now choose breast reconstruction. Reconstruction can be performed either at the time of the mastectomy, called “immediate reconstruction,” or later, called “delayed reconstruction.” Breast reconstruction can also be performed either via breast implants or with a woman’s own natural tissue. Using her own tissue… Continue reading Putting a New Nipple on a Reconstructed Breast
Managing the Emotional Aspects of Breast Reconstruction
More than 268,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in 2018, according to estimates by the American Cancer Society. Many of these breast cancer patients need to decide whether or not to undergo undergo mastectomy and breast reconstruction. A breast cancer diagnosis is difficult, and coping with decisions about surgical treatment and its aftermath… Continue reading Managing the Emotional Aspects of Breast Reconstruction
How to Give Yourself the Best Chance for a Normal Breast Shape After Mastectomy
Many people who have seen a woman’s chest after mastectomy have been exposed to the bold horizontal line that marks the spot where the breast existed before it was amputated. The preoperative markings for a traditional mastectomy look like an eye drawn on the breast to indicate the area of skin that will be cut… Continue reading How to Give Yourself the Best Chance for a Normal Breast Shape After Mastectomy
Nipple Reconstruction: Creating a Natural Breast After Mastectomy
Breast reconstruction recreates a breast mound either with implants or with the woman’s own tissue. In either case, nipple reconstruction can be performed in a separate surgery from the original breast reconstruction. Modern techniques in mastectomy and breast reconstruction offer women many options. Many women are candidates for nipple-sparing mastectomy, in which the nipple is… Continue reading Nipple Reconstruction: Creating a Natural Breast After Mastectomy
Restoring Sensation to the Breast after Mastectomy
More than 100,000 women have mastectomies in the United States every year. And, with surgical advances that promise a soft, warm breast that will look and feel like her original breast, more and more women now opt for breast reconstruction, either at the time of the mastectomy or later. But many of these women who… Continue reading Restoring Sensation to the Breast after Mastectomy
Half of Mastectomy Patients Pursue Reconstruction without Understanding Risks
More than half of breast cancer patients (57 percent) undergoing mastectomy lack the necessary medical knowledge to make a high-quality decision about reconstructive surgery that aligns with their personal goals, suggesting a trend toward overtreatment, according to a 2017 study conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James… Continue reading Half of Mastectomy Patients Pursue Reconstruction without Understanding Risks
Travel Distance Affects Reconstructive Breast-Cancer Surgery
Long travel distances are still a significant obstacle to breast reconstruction after surgery, according to a new study. The research was reported in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). “While greater patient awareness and insurance coverage have contributed to breast reconstruction rates in the United… Continue reading Travel Distance Affects Reconstructive Breast-Cancer Surgery
Breast Reconstruction Over Age 65: Implants vs. Patients’ Own Tissues
Older women don’t have an increased overall risk of complications from implant-based breast reconstruction after mastectomy, but women aged 65 or older are at increased risk of blood clot-related complications after tissue-based breast reconstruction. Those are the findings of a study published in the February 2015 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical… Continue reading Breast Reconstruction Over Age 65: Implants vs. Patients’ Own Tissues