 Allergies! [25]
Allergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy.
Antidepressants [24]
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia.
Arthritis [23]
Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body.
Cancer [28]
Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth
Cardio & Blood [1]
Risk factors for heart disease: infections
Cholesterol [3]
A fat-like substance called a lipid. It is used to build cell membranes, hormones and bile acids
Diabetes [20]
The inability of the body to produce, or the inability to metabolize, the human hormone insulin; Diabetes insipidus, usually a disorder of the ...
Epilepsy [9]
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures
Gastrointestinal [4]
The digestive tract is the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food...
General Health [54]
The infant, child or young person?s current health condition
Herbal [30]
Herbal tea, herbal medicine
Hormonal [26]
Hormones - Proteins produced by organs of the body that trigger activity in other locations.
Men's Health [2]
For men on fitness, health, sex, caree
Pain relief [23]
Pain management is the medical discipline concerned with the relief of pain.
Skin care [23]
The skin is the outer covering of the body
Weight Loss [29]
Loss of body weight by dieting or due to various easting disorders or medical conditions.
Women's Health [31]
Find information on women's health issues, and lifestyle at the Women's Health
Fresh material  What are symptoms of endometriosis: dysmenorrhoea
→ More
Solutions to infertility: what you can do to help yourself
→ More
Endometriosis: the burden of guilt
→ More
Endometriosis: about suspected diagnosis
→ More
What are symptoms of endometriosis
→ More
The most popular materials [439 view]
Prostaglandins—the new hormones → More
[418 view]
Factors affecting fertility: environmental hazards → More
[365 view]
Occupational hazards that can affect fertility → More
[360 view]
Endometriosis: pain and emotional turmoil → More
[340 view]
Hysterectomy: prolapse → More
Awaiting moderation 56 Article |
Surgery for breast cancer: simple total mastectomy SURGERY FOR BREAST CANCER: SIMPLE TOTAL MASTECTOMY
In this operation an ellipse of skin is taken from around the cancer and the nipple. The incision used tends to be in line with the nipple and wherever the cancer is. So if the cancer is in the upper outer quadrant, as is usually the case, the skin ellipse is usually in an oblique direction from the armpit, aiming downwards towards the midline. But if the lump is to one or other side of the nipple, then the incision will be a transverse one.
If too much skin is removed, the skin that remains may die, and there is a risk that a skin graft will be required. Therefore, only as much skin as necessary is removed. The subcutaneous fat is kept in place to give a cosmetically acceptable scar, and to allow for the painless use of prosthesis in the bra later. It is uncertain whether or not leaving more skin to facilitate a later reconstruction of the breast is dangerous in terms of ensuring the removal of all cancerous tissue, but most surgeons will err on the cautious side in any cancer operation.
The whole breast is then removed, together with the tail of the breast which goes into the armpit, and its associated lymph nodes. If all the lymph nodes are excised, one of the chest wall muscles - the pectoralis minor - must be split or removed to allow good access to the armpit. Radiotherapy is not necessarily required, although there is controversy here. Some surgeons believe that if all the lymph nodes are removed from the armpit, radiotherapy is unnecessary and, indeed, that if it were given, there would be a risk of swelling of the arm post-operatively. Other surgeons believe that only sampling of the lowest-lymph nodes in the armpit is necessary. If the nodes are found not to be involved, then it is clear that the cancer is probably confined to the breast and radiotherapy is therefore unnecessary. If, however, the nodes are involved, radiotherapy is indicated. The decision between these two types of treatment is a difficult one, both for the patient and the surgeon, and needs to be discussed carefully.
*39/39/5*
CANCER
«Mexican Pharmacy»
 Print
Viewed: 106
| Keywords for this page: Surgery for breast cancer: simple total mastectomy |
|
|
