Surgery was the only viable treatment for cancer for millennia and even predates modern medical science. But in the last century, various non-surgical modalities have been developed and provided less invasive alternatives, such as medical and radiation oncology. But despite these advancements, surgery remains the only treatment with the potential to cure breast cancers.
What is surgical oncology?
In past decades, cancer has evolved rapidly, and regular surgeons couldn’t deal with these solid malignancies. Therefore, a new type of surgeon and speciality was needed to keep pace with these changes. Surgical oncology is a specialized branch of surgery that focuses on the management of cancerous cells through the application of various invasive procedures and approaches. It’s the primary component of treatment in a majority of cases and often used in combination with medical and radiation oncology to yield better outcomes. So, for a surgeon to become a surgical oncologist, they must have expertise in the disease and lead a multi-disciplinary team.What are the goals of breast cancer surgery?
Breast cancer surgery is performed to remove the cancerous cells and tumours from the breast along with the surrounding tissues. But when cancer has spread into surrounding organs, the surgeons also remove lymph nodes from under the arm. According to the best cancer specialist in Jaipur, the extent and type of surgery usually depend upon the cancer type as well as the stage of cancer. So before you have decided to go for breast cancer surgery, learn more about the types of procedures that your surgeon may choose for you:Mastectomy
This surgery is performed to treat advanced types of breast cancer. In this procedure, the surgeon will remove the entire breast, including the nipple. However, they don’t remove your lymph nodes that are an essential part of the immune system. So it’s only performed if cancer hasn’t reached the lymph nodes or the patient is at risk of developing breast cancer in the future.Radical Mastectomy
It’s a surgical procedure that is performed to remove the breast, lymph nodes and underlying chest muscle, including pectoralis major and pectoralis minor of the axilla, to treat breast cancer. During the procedure, our surgeon makes several incisions on the breast to remove the breast tissue, nipple, lymph nodes but leaves the chest wall muscles under the breast.Breast-conserving surgery
Also known as lumpectomy, it’s performed to remove only the part of the breast containing the tumour. In this procedure, our surgeon only removes the tumour and surrounding tissue while saving as many breast tissues as possible for breast reconstruction surgery. However, the amount of removed and saved tissues depends on the tumour’s size and location. Oncologists recommend this procedure to women who have early-stage cancers or to those whose cancer is contained in one spot and is less than five centimetres in diameter.Breast Reconstruction surgery
It’s performed to restore the appearance and balance of one or both breasts along or after a mastectomy. In this procedure, our surgeon replaces the removed skin, breast tissue, and nipple with implants and tissues from a donor site. However, the extent of reconstruction depends on the type of mastectomy and the tumour’s width, size, and location.Wondering which is the right treatment for you?
Sometimes, patients may have difficulty choosing the right one with so many options available for cancer treatment. That’s why a surgical oncologist is a right person to consult for the most viable treatment option. They can explain the pros and cons of each treatment to the patient and plan their treatment accordingly.While there are many cancer centers in Jaipur, our Surgical Oncology Treatment is highly sought-after for its quality services and cost-effectiveness. So if you have questions about breast cancer surgical choices, consult our experts with your cancer questions.