Breast cancer develops from uncontrolled cell proliferation in the breast, leading to the development of a tumor that can spread to the lymph nodes and throughout the body. Breast tumors differ in their appearance, invasiveness and severity, but most breast cancers are generally treated by surgical methods to remove the cancerous tissue. There are a number of surgical procedures to treat breast cancer, depending on the type of tumor involved.
Skin- and Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy
A skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomy is a surgery in which the entire breast is removed, leaving only the skin, nipple and areola. It is considered a mild type of mastectomy surgery, because it leaves the overlying skin and parts of nipple intact to facilitate breast reconstructive surgery after the cancer is removed. Since the nipple contains some ductal tissue, which is usually involved in cancer, the core of the nipple is also removed, leaving the blood supply intact, to retain the appearance of the nipple. Skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomies can only be performed in women whose cancer has not spread to the skin and does not occur close to the nipple.
According to the Ireland Cancer Center, skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomy has a high success rate, with less than a 6.5 percent rate of cancer recurrence for 10 years after surgery.
Simple Mastectomy
A simple mastectomy is a more advanced procedure that removes more of the breast tissue than a skin- and nipple-conserving mastectomy. A simple mastectomy may be performed in patients suffering from tumors close to the nipple or cancer that has affected the skin of the breast. The procedure involves cutting the breast tissue from the muscles of the chest and removing the entire breast as well as the areola and nipple.
The University of Pennsylvania reports that the recurrence of breast cancer following a simple mastectomy is between 0 and 2 percent.
Radical Mastectomy
A radical mastectomy is a severe type of mastectomy that does not conserve any breast tissue. Radical mastectomies were once widely used, but are now only used to treat aggressive cancer that has spread beyond the breast and into the wall of the chest, which would not be treated with other forms of mastectomy. A radical mastectomy involves removal of the entire breast as well as the underlying chest muscles and all the lymph nodes surrounding the breast.
The University of Pennsylvania states that due to the severity of a radical mastectomy, there may be post-operative complications, such as a buildup of lymph fluid at the site of the surgery. Patients may also have decreased range of motion of their shoulder and swelling of the arm.
