Breast surgery

Breast surgery means removal of breast tumor, either malignant or benign.

The early diagnosis of breast tumour is of major importance. For small-size tumours, minor surgical intervention is needed and the breast is spared.Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, fluid coming from the nipple, or a red scaly patch of skin. In those with distant spread of the disease, there may be bone pain, swollen lymph nodes , shortness of breath, or yellow skin.Risk factors for developing breast cancer include obesity, lack of physical exercise, drinking alcohol, hormone replacement therapy during menopause, early age at first menstruation, having children late or not at all, older age and family history.

How is this procedure carried out?

The treatment of breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and most often the combination of all of them.The treatment and prognosis depend on the type of cancer, the stage of disease, patients’ age and many other factors.The mainstay of breast cancer treatment is surgery when the tumor is localized.If the treatment starts at the early stage of disease, one excision of the tumor is enough, followed by minimal radiotherapy in order to prevent complications.Breast cancer may appear in women of different age but it most frequently appears in women who are over fifty years of age and the incidence increases with age. Fortunately, benign tumours, fibroadenomas are more common especially in 15-year old girls and young women under 30, and malignant alterations of fibromas are extremely rare.

Experts: Surgery