Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignant pathologies and, among the treatments available, surgery is of key importance. The different surgical techniques differ in their objectives and indications, and can also be combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. We are going to tell you many relevant facts about this important subject.

Surgical interventions for breast cancer

The objective of the different surgeries is to eliminate as many cancer cells as possible to prevent their spread. They are performed on both small and large tumors, and even when there are recurrences. In many cases, it is also necessary to remove the lymph nodes to which they may have spread, which is a common procedure in oncology.

There are several relevant aspects to decide the treatment, such as the size of the tumor or the presence of an inflammatory component. Also its extension to the skin or to the pectoral muscle.

These factors help determine the most appropriate intervention. Commonly performed are mastectomy and its variants, lumpectomy, lymph node removal and reconstructive breast surgery.

Radical mastectomy

It is an extensive operation that is currently performed infrequently. It includes excision of the entire mammary gland with the skin and nipple, with the lymph nodes of the axilla and the underlying pectoralis muscle.

Prophylactic mastectomy

Sometimes, the risk of developing this disease is very high and prophylactic bilateral mastectomy is a preventive measure. In general, it is recommended when there are close relatives with a history of this type of cancer or there is a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Skin sparing mastectomy

It consists of removing all the breast tissue while preserving most of the skin. It is performed to facilitate subsequent reconstruction of the breast, but it is not appropriate for very large malignant lesions or close to the surface.

The nipple can also be maintained and left in its natural anatomical situation. This is possible as long as the underlying breast tissue does not show evidence of containing pathological cells after analysis.

Tumor removal

This surgery seeks to preserve the breast with much less radical techniques. It is called quadrantectomy when it involves one quadrant of the breast, or lumpectomy when only the tumor is removed. In segmental mastectomy it is necessary to remove a larger area, which may include healthy peripheral tissue and lymph nodes.

These surgeries are used when the malignant lesion measures less than 5 centimeters and is restricted to a single area. Another requirement is that the patient agrees to receive subsequent radiation therapy, or other therapies aimed at preventing the cancer from recurring.

Interventions on regional lymph nodes

As you may have guessed, the role of the lymph nodes is essential in this pathology, because they are the first place to which the cancer spreads. Moreover, their degree of involvement is one of the data necessary to determine the stage of the disease.

The most likely node to contain cells from the primary breast tumor is called the sentinel node. To verify this, it is identified by various procedures and then a biopsy is performed, which can be done before or during the operation.

The pathologist will examine the tissue obtained; the treatment and prognosis of the disease will change if there is invasion. In this case, regional dissection is indicated, which may involve 10 to 40 nodes.

Reconstructive surgery

This option depends on the woman’s decision to restore the natural appearance of the breast after removal. It is advisable to talk to your doctor to explore the possible solutions, because more than one reconstructive intervention may be required. For this purpose, it is possible to use implants or the tissues themselves, with a skin flap and fat grafts.

The risk of recurrence

If the cancer cells are not completely eradicated, there is a risk of breast cancer. breast cancer recurrentwhich reappears after the initial treatment has been completed. Recurrence can be local, in the operated area, or regional, when it has spread to nearby lymph nodes. In the case of distant recurrence, there are metastases in organs such as the lung, bones or brain.

In most cases, additional therapies are recommended before or after surgeries, with the aim of completely eliminating the malignant cells. They are specifically aimed at reducing the risk of recurrence:

• Chemotherapy, for the whole organism.
• Radiotherapy, with local effect.
• Hormone therapy, which blocks estrogen and progesterone stimulation.
• Therapy targeting proteins that control the multiplication of cancer cells.

Breast cancer is one of the most studied cancers and new alternatives are constantly being discovered and designed to achieve more effective treatments. At Phytogen Medical Foods we are committed to your wellbeing, check it out by visiting our website!