The mastectomy aims to remove the tumor, whether it is benign or malignant, provided that the tumor has not penetrated the tissue boundaries in a way that requires the removal of the entire breast. Breast tumor removal is one of the relatively recent operations, as in the past, the entire breast was removed in all cases in which a tumor was diagnosed in the breast,
This left the patient with many difficult medical and psychological repercussions.
Risks of performing the operation
Breast lumpectomy is associated with many risks, such as the following
Incision site infection.
bleeding.
Scars at the incision site.
in blood pressure
The death of some tissues as a result of problems with blood supply.
Fluid buildup in the arm.
prior to the operation
The doctor directs the patient to perform some tests as needed, such as: blood tests, complete blood cell count, blood chemistry, and coagulation tests. A chest x-ray is taken, especially in the elderly, and an EKG is also performed.
A biopsy is taken from the breast to diagnose the type of tumor, and in some cases other examinations are performed, such as: computed tomography, positron emission tomography, mammography, or ultrasound examination of the breast.
You should consult your doctor about all medications that you should stop taking before the surgery, and you should also refrain from drinking alcohol for 48 hours and fasting for 8 hours before the operation.
during the procedure
Breast lumpectomy is performed as follows
sampling from the sentinel node To make sure there are no hidden cancer cells in the lymph tract.
Thoroughly sterilize the chest area, then the surgeon makes an incision in the lower border of the tumor.
Complete removal of the lump from healthy breast tissue.
Removing and examining some ends of the healthy breast tissue surrounding the tumor To ensure that they are free of cancerous cells.
Suturing healthy breast tissue again after ensuring that it is free of any tumors.
Breast lumpectomy takes one to two hours, and some tubes are left to drain fluid from the tissue.
Post-operation
The patient must stay in the hospital under observation for 24 hours after the mastectomy to ensure that the condition is stable.
Pain relievers can be taken when needed, and the sick woman usually needs a period of up to a week to recover, and it is preferable during this period to get enough rest.
The patient should go to the doctor immediately if some symptoms appear, such as: severe pain, high temperature, shortness of breath, purulent secretions, and severe bleeding.
