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There are many reasons why you may wish to see a breast doctor,
such as:
Breast surgery is often the end point of a consultation.
Already you may have had Mammography,
Ultrasound, a Clinical
examination, a Fine Needle Aspiration or a Core biopsy.
SURGERY
may or may not be indicated for your particular case, and
usually there is more than one option - e.g. for a lump
should we biopsy or wait and watch, or if cancer is present
should you have radiotherapy with or without an operation,
or hormone treatment or just chemotherapy?
Options for operation might be a partial
mastectomy, usually combined with a lymph node clearance
of the axilla (the glands under your armpit). Sometimes
a full mastectomy
- "simple, or only occasionally these days a "modified
radical", might have the best chance for success. The
best plan for you should relate to your individual circumstances
and wishes, after full discussion of the likely benefits,
possible risks and side-effects, and prognosis with each possible
treatment plan.
Often it is also possible to do a breast
reconstruction operation using an abdominal muscle
(rectus abdominus, called a TRAM operation) or the
latissimus dorsi muscle from the back and shoulder
area. You may choose to have implants (either saline or gel)
as well as, or instead of the lat.dorsi or TRAM operation.
All these options are fully considered and discussed with
you before the therapy is decided upon - to make the best
possible choices for you.
The type of anaesthetic
and instructions about not eating and drinking can be found
in Anaesthesia Information
page.
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