Breast Cancer Surgery (Lumpectomy, Mastectomy, Reconstructive)
Introduction
Breast cancer surgery has a critical role in breast cancer treatment. Depending on the outcome targeted, such as the complete eradication of the tissue that is cancerous or the restoration of the appearance of the breast, several surgical options are employed. Lumpectomy, mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery are the most frequent operations. This paper will discuss the specifics of these processes, advantages, expenses and top hospitals for breast cancer surgery in India, particularly in Delhi.
What is Breast Cancer Surgery?
Breast cancer surgery denotes all operations that are performed to excise cancerous nodules or cancer tissue from the breast. The scale of surgery can vary depending on the stage and type of cancer. In a subset of cases, surgeons resect only a portion of the breast (lumpectomy), whereas in others, they need to resect the entire breast (mastectomy). After these reconstructions, doctors can use reconstructive surgery to restore the look of the breast.
Why is Breast Cancer Surgery Performed?
Breast cancer surgery is typically performed for several reasons:
- To remove cancerous tissue: The surgery can cure the tumor or cancerous cells in the breast and thus treat the disease.
- Prevent further complications: Surgery aims to eliminate the tumor, thereby stopping the spread of cancer to other areas of the body.
- Improve quality of life: Surgeons commonly use reconstructive surgery to repair the contour and appearance of the breast to restore confidence and mental health after breast loss.
Types of Breast Cancer Surgery
lumpectomy, mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery. Here’s a breakdown of each:
- Lumpectomy: This is a minimally invasive surgery in which only the cancerous area of the breast is removed. It maintains most of the breasts and has a shorter hospitalization time as compared with mastectomy.
- Mastectomy: There are several types of mastectomy surgeries:
- Total Mastectomy: Aoles the entire breast tissue, including the nipple, areola, and part of the surrounding tissue.
- Modified Radical Mastectomy: This includes the resection of the whole breast with the accompanying excision of some lymph nodes in the armpit.
- Skin-Sparing Mastectomy: Skin overlying the breast is retained and immediate breast reconstruction is possible.
- Reconstructive Surgery: This surgery is performed after mastectomy and recreates the breast form with implants or with a tissue flap. This procedure enables women to feel closer to their old selves after surgery.
Procedure Steps
Lumpectomy:
- Anesthesia: The patient is placed under general anesthesia.
- Incision: The surgeon creates a micro incision to excise the lesion and microscopic margin of the surrounding tissue.
- Excision of Tumor: The medical team sends the tumor and surrounding tissue to a lab for analysis to ensure all cancerous cells are removed.
- Closure: The surgeon cauterizes the incision with a suture and applies a bandage.
Mastectomy:
- Anesthesia: General anesthesia is administered.
- Incision: The surgeon performs a resection incision to excise the entire breast parenchyma.
- Lymph Node Removal: If the lymph nodes are also excised from the axilla to diagnose cancer cell dissemination.
- Reconstruction (if performed): In a few instances, the surgeon may immediately perform breast reconstruction.
Reconstructive Surgery:
- Tissue Preparation: If surgeons are to transplant autologous tissue, they create a donor area (i.e., from the abdomen or back).
- Implant Placement: For implant reconstruction, surgeons insert silicone or saline implants.
- Flap Surgery: When using a flap technique, the operator will shift tissue from another part of the body to recreate the breast.
- Closure: The incisions are closed, and the area is bandaged.
Benefits of Breast Cancer Surgery
Breast cancer surgery provides numerous benefits: Breast cancer surgery provides numerous benefits:
- Effective removal of cancer: Surgery is one of the most effective ways to remove cancerous tissue and reduce the risk of recurrence.
- Improved survival rates: Early surgical removal of tumors can increase survival rates and help to prevent metastases.
- Enhanced physical appearance: Reconstructive surgery alleviates the concern of a lost breast look in women and ultimately leads to a better body image and self-image.
- Preservation of healthy tissue: A procedure such as lumpectomy attempts to remove the highest amount of healthy tissue throughout and provide an alternative minimally invasive procedure for a large number of patients.
Best Hospitals in India for Treatment
India has renowned modern hospitals providing excellent breast cancer surgery. Among the top hospitals in Delhi and India are:
- Metro Hospital Faridabad
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, Delhi NCR
- Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi NCR
Risks and Complications
As with any surgery, breast cancer surgeries have associated risks, including:
- Infection: Any surgery carries the risk of infection.
- Bleeding: Some bleeding may occur during or after the procedure.
- Lymphedema: Removal of lymph nodes can cause swelling in the arms or legs.
- Scarring: Scarring is common, especially with mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
- Recurrence of Cancer: It is an ever-present risk that cancer may recur, even following surgery.
Recovery
Recovery following breast cancer surgery is different depending on the type of surgery:
- Lumpectomy: Recovery usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks and most patients can resume normal activities within weeks.
- Mastectomy: Recovery is between 3 and 6 weeks and there are those patients requiring physical therapy to regain strength and ability.
- Reconstructive Surgery: This may require 4 to 6 weeks of recovery, depending on the complexity of the procedure.
During their recovery, healthcare providers counsel patients to adhere to their surgeon’s recommendations for the level of physical activity, dressing of the wound, and subsequent follow-up visits to facilitate an uncomplicated recovery.
Cost of Breast Cancer Surgery
- Lumpectomy: $3,000 – $4,500
- Mastectomy: $3,500 – $5,500
- Reconstructive Surgery: $4,000 – $7,000
When comparing the costs of breast cancer surgery across different countries, India stands out as an affordable option for high-quality care. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Country | Lumpectomy | Mastectomy | Reconstructive Surgery |
| USA | $10,000 – $15,000 | $12,000 – $20,000 | $15,000 – $225,000 |
| UK | $6,000 – $9,000 | $8,000 – $12,000 | $10,000 – $15,000 |
| India | $3,000 – $4,500 | $3,500 – $5,500 | $4,000 – $7,000 |
India’s lower cost, combined with world-class medical facilities, makes it an excellent choice for patients seeking breast cancer surgery.
