Breast cancer surgery in Reading, PA is not just a full mastectomy; the surgery that is performed varies between patients based on the type of breast cancer and the degree or progress of the disease. A mastectomy is the complete removal of the breast and is often performed as a cancer treatment however there are also less aggressive surgeries such as lumpectomies. The type of surgery that is performed is based on not just the medical needs but also of the emotional needs of the patient. It must be noted that although breast cancer is often thought of as a disease that only affects women, men also can get breast cancer.
Prior to breast surgery:
If breast cancer has been diagnosed or even if there is a hint of cancer, the doctor can order up many tests to be assured that breast cancer is present or not. These tests can prove the existence of the disease; they can also chart the progression of the disease and offer the best approach for treatment. In many cases a mammogram may show a suspect area, if it does there are other tests that can be ran such as MRI, a breast biopsy, ultrasound, X-ray or lymph node biopsy.
The severity of the cancer and the stage to which it has reached are the factors that dictate the treatment that will be needed to combat the disease. The treatment options include breast cancer surgery in Reading, PA as well as radiation, chemotherapy and targeted therapies which are developed for the specific patient. The treatment that is elected is that which provides the best chance for survival and is based on the progression of the disease and the location of the tumor.
When mastectomy is the recommended treatment it can be further subdivided into radical, simple and modified radical. Another commonly used treatment is a lumpectomy which is a procedure where only that area of the breast which is cancerous is removed rather than the entire breast which may include the lymph nodes.
Reconstruction:
Although the decision to undergo breast reconstruction is personal, many cancer survivors elect to undergo reconstructive surgery, usually the decision to have this is made prior to the mastectomy surgery as the surgeon will try to save as much skin as possible which is used to cover the implant.
Once breast cancer has been diagnosed it is usually treated with chemotherapy, radiation and breast cancer surgery in Reading, PA. Visit for more information.
