Many breast cancer patients with small or relatively noninvasive breast tumors undergo a lumpectomy--a type of breast-conserving surgery. A lumpectomy involves removing all the cancerous tissue from the affected breast, as well as a margin of tissue at the tumor's perimeter, while leaving the rest of the breast tissue intact. While an effective breast cancer treatment as well as a less invasive surgical treatment than some other therapies, a lumpectomy may also lead to a number of complications.
Allergic Reactions
Any surgical procedure carries some risk of allergic reactions to the drugs used during and after the surgery. If an allergic reaction does occur, patients may develop hives or skin rashes that can cause discomfort during recovery. In more severe cases, patients may go into anaphylactic shock, which can prove harmful. However, NetWellness, a medical awareness website associated with the University of Cincinnati, explains that severe, shock-type allergic reactions are exceedingly rare. During the lumpectomy procedure, an anesthesiologist will continually monitor the patient for any adverse reactions to the surgical drugs and adjust medication if needed.
Internal Scarring
A common complication of a lumpectomy is the formation of internal scarring following the procedure. As the breast heals itself, dense connective tissue helps form scar tissue around the site of surgery, increasing the density and hardness of the breast. This dense scar tissue can interfere with breast imaging following treatment, since the presence of scars can obscure a doctor's view of structures within the breast on a mammogram. As a result, performing a lumpectomy can increase the difficulty of detecting any future breast lesions. As a result, patients who have received a lumpectomy should undergo regular clinical examinations in addition to mammograms to monitor the health of their breasts.
Lymphedema
Another possible complication of a lumpectomy is lymphedema, swelling of the arm with lymphatic fluid. During the lumpectomy surgery, the doctor commonly removes one or more lymph nodes--small structures containing immune cells--around the breast, because breast cancer very commonly spreads to these nodes. The removal of lymph nodes disrupts the normal flow of lymph fluid through the lymphatic vessels and may prevent the body from moving fluid out of the arm. Patients who develop lymphedema following their lumpectomy experience painful swelling of the arm and hand as well as diminished range of motion from the swelling. Imaginis recommends light arm exercises in the months after a lumpectomy to prevent lymphedema and the use of pressure bandages to treat the disorder, if it occurs.
