Breast Reconstruction Surgery After Mastectomy
(NBC News) - Most of more than 200,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer this year will have a lumpectomy to remove just the tumor from their breast. But a significant number will need a mastectomy to remove the entire breast, and then breast reconstruction. But when should it be done, and is it safe?
Marjorie Belson is a breast cancer survivor, "I'd walk down Park Avenue and my jacket was open, so I'd look in the mirror and I'd say, 'Oh My!'"
There are many women who might say this about their figure, or at least wish they could. But Marjorie thought she'd never be able to say that after cancer was found in both her breasts, "I opted for bilateral mastectomies. I don't want to go back and forth anymore. The anxiety was too much."
Not only did Marjorie have breast reconstruction, she had it done at the same time as her mastectomies, which used to be controversial, until multiple studies showed that it is safe.
Dr. Mark Sultan, with St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, explains, "The complication rate of the reconstruction plus the mastectomy is no higher than the two procedures done separately, and it has been shown with large studies that there is no increased risk with recurrence if one has had reconstruction."
There are a variety of techniques used to reconstruct breasts, a woman's own tissue can be used or there's implants, either saline or silicone, such as Marjorie chose, which are a relatively simple but multi-step procedure.
In fact, a very recent study found women who chose breast reconstruction actually had better survival odds than women who didn't.
Dr. Sultan says, "It's possible that women who are offered reconstruction initially are possibly in a healthier, or that afterwards, because they had been reconstructed and feel healthier, that they might more frequently come back to their physician for a follow-up, or they might take better care of themselves, might eat better, etc., etc."
Silicone breast implants are FDA cleared for breast reconstruction, as opposed to augmentation. If you're not comfortable with those, saline implants are available, or you can fashion a breast from your own tissue, although that operation is more extensive than implant surgery.
Marjorie Belson is a breast cancer survivor, "I'd walk down Park Avenue and my jacket was open, so I'd look in the mirror and I'd say, 'Oh My!'"
There are many women who might say this about their figure, or at least wish they could. But Marjorie thought she'd never be able to say that after cancer was found in both her breasts, "I opted for bilateral mastectomies. I don't want to go back and forth anymore. The anxiety was too much."
Not only did Marjorie have breast reconstruction, she had it done at the same time as her mastectomies, which used to be controversial, until multiple studies showed that it is safe.
Dr. Mark Sultan, with St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, explains, "The complication rate of the reconstruction plus the mastectomy is no higher than the two procedures done separately, and it has been shown with large studies that there is no increased risk with recurrence if one has had reconstruction."
There are a variety of techniques used to reconstruct breasts, a woman's own tissue can be used or there's implants, either saline or silicone, such as Marjorie chose, which are a relatively simple but multi-step procedure.
In fact, a very recent study found women who chose breast reconstruction actually had better survival odds than women who didn't.
Dr. Sultan says, "It's possible that women who are offered reconstruction initially are possibly in a healthier, or that afterwards, because they had been reconstructed and feel healthier, that they might more frequently come back to their physician for a follow-up, or they might take better care of themselves, might eat better, etc., etc."
Silicone breast implants are FDA cleared for breast reconstruction, as opposed to augmentation. If you're not comfortable with those, saline implants are available, or you can fashion a breast from your own tissue, although that operation is more extensive than implant surgery.
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