There are several types of mastectomy, the surgical removal of the breast. Mastectomy is the most common treatment for breast cancer. The extent of the surgery depends on the size of the tumor, the stage of cancer, the involvement of the lymph nodes, and the age and overall health of the patient. Surgeons may try to save as much tissue as possible in various mastectomy procedures, but when cancer has spread too far radical methods are required.
Removal
A radical mastectomy differs from other procedures in that the entire beast and surrounding tissue are removed. Simpler mastectomies may include removing only the breast but not the lymph nodes or surrounding muscle as well as procedures that remove the breast through tiny incisions to keep the skin intact. A lumpectomy may only involve removing a tumor and small amounts of tissue.
Radical
A radical mastectomy is rarely performed, according to experts at the Oncology Channel. It requires removing the entire breast, lymph nodes, muscles under the breast and some surrounding fatty tissue. The surgery is only done when cancer cells have spread to the chest wall, or in cases when tumors are so extensive a more complex operation is necessary.
Modified
A modified radical mastectomy, the most common surgery for breast cancer, removes the entire breast, lymph nodes under the arm and tissue over the chest muscles, leaving the muscles intact. When chemotherapy treatment cannot satisfactorily reduce a large tumor, a modified radical mastectomy is used and the breast needs to be removed because of the tumor size.
Operation
A radical mastectomy usually takes longer than the two to three hours it takes for other mastectomies, depending on how complex the surgery needs to be. The surgeon makes an incision in the skin that includes the nipple and areola, which are removed along with the tumor, breast tissue, muscles beneath the breast and surrounding tissues. Excess fluid is then drained from under the skin following the operation.
Cancer Cells
A radical mastectomy is performed to make sure that all the cancerous cells are removed from the lymph nodes and the chest muscle, according to the website of Somerset Medical Center. Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system necessary to transport fluid, fats and proteins to the bloodstream.
Changes
After a radical mastectomy, there is usually a loss of muscle strength in the arm on the affected side of the body, because of the removal of muscle tissue. The shape and appearance of the chest will have changed. It is important that patients have all the reasons for the operation from their doctors before surgery is decided.
