A mastectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat breast cancer. According to oncologychannel.com, it is the most common form of breast cancer treatment that women undergo, and a variety of types exist. The type of mastectomy performed is determined by the size of the tumor and the surrounding tissues the tumor has affected.
Simple Mastectomy
While the entire breast is removed during this type of mastectomy, it is considered simple because in most cases the lymph nodes and the muscle surrounding the breast are left untouched. In rare instances, the lymph nodes are taken when they are attached to the breast tissue being removed.
Breastcancer.org states that this procedure is generally for women whose cancer covers a large area or for women who have any chance of treated breast cancer recurring.
Modified Radical Mastectomy
The most common of all mastectomies, a modified radical mastectomy removes the entire breast along with the lymph nodes and the lining covering the chest muscle, although the chest muscles are left in place.
This type of mastectomy is performed on women with invasive breast cancer, meaning it has spread to the surrounding tissues. The lymph nodes are removed so that they may be examined, allowing the doctor to determine if the cancer has spread beyond the breast to other areas of the body.
Radical Mastectomy
A radical mastectomy is the most extreme type of mastectomy and is rarely performed according to oncologychannel.com. During this procedure, the entire breast is removed along with the lymph nodes, the muscles under the breast and some fatty tissues surrounding the breast.
This is typically performed when tumors are large or cancer cells have spread to the walls of the chest. Because it is so disfiguring, most doctors feel that a modified radical mastectomy is just as effective, making it a more common procedure than this one.
Partial Mastectomy
In a partial mastectomy, the doctor removes the cancerous part of the breast along with some of the surrounding healthy tissue. The lymph nodes are usually removed as well, along with the lining that covers the chest wall muscles. This is usually performed for stage I and II tumors, and mirrors a lumpectomy, another procedure. The difference between the two is that more tissue is removed during a partial.
Subcutaneous Mastectomy
During a subcutaneous mastectomy, all that is removed is the tumor and breast tissue---the nipple and top layer of skin are left behind, making it easier for reconstructive surgery to take place. However, this means that some cancer cells may remain, increasing the odds of breast cancer recurrence.
