Mastectomy: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mastectomy?
A mastectomy is the surgical removal of your breast. A mastectomy may be recommended if you have more than one malignant tumor in your breast or if you have a large tumor. There are 3 types: simple, moderate radical, mastectomy.
Source: www.comprehensivebreast.net
This refers to the operation that removes the entire breast including the nipple-areolar complex. This is an option to treat breast cancer and may be necessary for large tumors or multiple tumors. A simple or total mastectomy removes only the breast and no lymph nodes. A modified radical mastectomy removes the breast and some of the lymph nodes under the arm.
Source: www.robinrahmmd.com
A mastectomy involves the complete removal of a breast affected by cancer through surgery. A different type of surgery may be conducted if breast reconstruction is part of the consideration following surgery. After the mastectomy the surgeon may also remove one or more lymph nodes from the armpit, to test whether the breast cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body.
Source: www.breastcanceraustralia.org
What is a prophylactic mastectomy?
A prophylactic mastectomy (also called a preventive mastectomy) reduces a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer by surgically removing her breasts even before cancer is discovered. Women sometimes choose this for the following reasons: she has had a cancer in one breast and she wants to minimize the chance of getting a cancer in the opposite breast, she has a genetic mutation, she has a strong family history of breast cancer, or she has premalignant disease and wants to reduce her chances of breast cancer. ...
Source: www.breastcenteroftexoma.com
What is a preventive mastectomy?
This is surgery to remove one or more breasts to reduce the risk for breast cancer. It’s also called prophylactic mastectomy. Some women who have a very high risk for breast cancer make this choice. This surgery has been shown to reduce the risk for breast cancer by 90% in very high-risk women. Some women who have had this surgery, though, have regretted it. This irreversible decision should be made carefully. It should be done only after extensive consultation with a breast-cancer expert and a genetic counselor. ...
Source: www.wcn.org
Preventive or prophylactic mastectomy is the removal of one or more breasts to reduce the risk of getting breast cancer. Some women who have a very high risk of breast cancer choose this alternative. Prophylactic mastectomy has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer by 90 percent in very high-risk women. However, some women who have had this surgery have regretted it afterward. ...
Source: www.healthline.com
This is surgery to remove one or more breasts to reduce the risk for breast cancer. It’s also called prophylactic mastectomy. Some women who have a very high risk for breast cancer make this choice. This surgery has been shown to reduce the risk for breast cancer by 90% in very high-risk women. However, some women who have had this surgery have regretted it. This irreversible decision should be made carefully. It should be done only after extensive consultation with a breast-cancer expert and a genetic counselor. ...
Source: www.cancerschmancer.org
What is a mastectomy bra?
mastectomy bra is a bra that is specially designed with pockets to hold the weighted breast form. They come in a variety of attractive colors and styles and can be fitted at the same time as your breast prosthesis fitting.
Source: www.dana-farber.org
Mastectomy bras are specialised bras that have pockets to hold the prosthesis. There are many attractive bras that come in varying styles and colours that can be fitted at the time of the prosthesis. They should be carefully fitted by a trained professional. If you know your size, please browse our range of mastectomy bras on our website.
Source: www.mobileprosthetics.com.au
What are the types of mastectomy?
A simple or total mastectomy involves removing only the breast. This is sometimes recommended for noninvasive or intraductal carcinoma. A modified radical mastectomy is the most common type of mastectomy. This involves the removal of your whole breast including lining of the chest muscle (not the muscle itself) and some of the lymph nodes under your arm.. A radical mastectomy (also called the Halstead radical mastectomy) is rarely used unless the tumor has spread to the chest wall muscle. ...
Source: www.comprehensivebreast.net
What is a mastectomy/surgical bra?
mastectomy bra (sometimes referred to as a surgical bra) is a bra with pockets sewn into the cups to hold the breast prosthesis in place. These bras are available in many styles and colors.
Source: www.breastcaresurvivor.com
What is the price range for mastectomy bras and forms?
When you purchase mastectomy products, the government or your private health insurance refunds a portion of the cost. For breast prostheses, Manitoba Medical will give you back $153.50 per prosthesis every two years and they refund you $12.30 per bra for 2 bras a year. The initial cost of silicone prostheses is from approximately $320.00 to just over $400.00 and bras cost from $55.00 to $70.00.
Source: www.thebrabar.com
What is the difference between lumpectomy and mastectomy?
Lumpectomy is the surgical removal of a breast lump and a surrounding margin of normal breast tissue. Lumpectomy usually does not significantly alter the physical appearance of the breast. Mastectomy is the surgical removal of an affected breast and often some or all of the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes and pectoral (chest) muscles. Breast reconstruction is possible in most cases after mastectomy. Many women are faced with the choice between mastectomy or lumpectomy. ...
Source: www.imaginis.com
What is the normal recovery time after a mastectomy?
Most women stay in the hospital overnight. Some women may stay an additional day. Women usually go home with a drainage tube under the arm. I tell women to expect to feel tired, sore, and weak for a couple of weeks. Generally they start to feel better after a week or two. We start arm motion exercises to encourage return of mobility. Generally by two weeks after surgery women are ready for any additional treatment (chemotherapy, for example) that may be required. ...
Source: www.uihealthcare.com
Most women are in the hospital for two to three days. Generally they go home with a small drainage tube and are seen back in the office or clinic within a week to have the drain removed. During that week, a woman may have a visiting nurse if necessary to help with dressings. The woman will begin exercising and using the arm during the next week. Depending upon the kind of activity, a woman may return to activities within two or three weeks. Generally by that time a plan has been made as to further treatment. ...
Source: www.uihealthcare.com
DOES INSURANCE COVER MASTECTOMY SUPPLIES?
Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance carriers will cover the cost of mastectomy supplies as long as women have a prescription from their doctor. Generally, Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance plans will pay for one silicone breast prosthesis every two years, up to two foam, leisure or swimforms every year, four mastectomy bras per year, two postmastectomy camisoles the first year after surgery, and two permaform bras every year. Most insurance companies do not cover mastectomy swimsuits. ...
Is it safer to have a mastectomy for my DCIS?
The difference in survival between breast conservation for DCIS and mastectomy for DCIS is 1% after 15 years of follow-up -- 1% survival advantage for patients who have mastectomy. So, there's not a lot of incentive to choose a mastectomy.
Source: www.cancerlynx.com
Is a mastectomy safer than a lumpectomy and radiation?
Lumpectomy is a type of breast-conserving surgery. The National Cancer Institute found that lumpectomy followed by radiation was as effective as a mastectomy in saving women’s lives from breast cancer. The risk of local recurrence is still higher with lumpectomy. But if cancer recurs in the breast after a lumpectomy and radiation, a mastectomy can still be done and can be just as effective.
Source: www.cancerschmancer.org
Are there medical disadvantages of a Skin-Sparing Mastectomy?
There are no medical disadvantages to the patient. However, the SSM is more difficult to perform and can be more time consuming. General and breast surgeons may need additional training to learn the operation.
What is a Skin-Sparing Mastectomy (SSM)?
A skin-sparing mastectomy, also known as breast-conserving surgery, is a way to treat cancer, and save the breast skin. In so doing it causes much less scarring than a traditional mastectomy. The skin-sparing procedure removes cancerous breast tissue through a small incision usually around the areola area of the nipple. The surgeon leaves most of the breast skin, creating a natural skin envelope, or pocket, that is filled with a breast implant or with the patient’s own tissue from another part of her body. ...
Why do some women get Partial Mastectomy and some get Complete Mastectomy for breast cancer?
The decision whether or not to have a partial or complete mastectomy is a decision made after all options are explored with your doctor. Some women are better treated with one or the other, and in some women the choices are essentially equal in terms of outcome. This is often a very personal choice best made with the help of your physician. Again, your doctor can help you decide which course of treatment is best for you.
Source: www.breastsurgerysa.com
Does Medicare cover breast prostheses for mastectomy patients?
Medicare will cover a mastectomy form every two years for a patient that has had a mastectomy. Medicare will also cover mastectomy bras for these patients every year.
Source: www.lintonrx.com
Does Bosom Buddy need to be worn in a pocketed mastectomy bra?
Since Bosom Buddy has soft, soothing 100% cotton jersey on the back of the form, it hugs the body and generally stays in place without a pocketed bra. We suggest you have a good-fitting bra that holds you snugly in place and provides good support in the underarm band and straps. See our tips for
finding the correct brassiere.
Source: www.bosombuddy.com
What if I've had breast surgery, such as mastectomy or breast enhancement?
There are no contra-indications to having a breast thermogram. Clear and accurate images can be obtained regardless of any history of breast surgery, including mastectomy, lumpectomy, breast reduction or breast enhancement. In fact, breast thermography is the initial screening method of choice for women who have had breast surgery of all kinds due to the limitations of mammography.
Source: www.thermascreen.com
Is hormone replacement therapy needed after a mastectomy?
Most women who have been treated for breast cancer will not be given hormone replacement therapy, particularly if their breast cancer was "receptor positive". Some of the drugs, such as tamoxifen, which are used to treat breast cancer, have similar effects to those of hormone replacement therapy.
Source: www.uihealthcare.com
What percentage of breast cancer patients need mastectomy?
Women with early stage breast cancer can be treated by breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy, axilliary node dissection, and radiation) OR mastectomy. It's up to individual preference; there is no survival difference. So if you consider women with early stage disease, potentially all could be treated with breast conservation. Later stage disease may need to be treated by mastectomy. Some women choose mastectomy because they do not want to go through radiation therapy. ...
Source: www.uihealthcare.com
Does choosing to have a mastectomy guarantee I will not need radiation?
Unfortunately, there are circumstances where radiation is recommended even after a mastectomy is performed. Whether or not radiation therapy should be used after removal of the breast depends on several factors. These factors include lymph node involvement, tumor size, and whether or not cancer cells were found near the edge of the tissue that was removed. You should see a radiation oncologist to discuss these possibilities before you decide which type of surgery to undergo.
Source: www.coastalradiationoncology.com
Does it matter what type of surgeon performs the mastectomy?
The key is the surgeon is trained in doing SSM so it can be performed after the mastectomy part of the surgery. The surgeon may be a general surgeon, cancer surgeon, breast surgeon, plastic or oncoplastic surgeon.
What are the emotional and physical advantages of a skin-sparing mastectomy?
A better cosmetic result after breast cancer surgery for many women greatly helps restore her to her former life. This includes an aesthetic looking breast(s), properly fitting clothes and the feeling that her womanhood and sexuality are still intact. The use of plastic surgery techniques to remove the diseased breast tissue may allow for improvement in breast shape and enhancement of breast size if desired. ...
Do you fit patients for mastectomy products?
Yes. We have an in-office fitter who is available on an appointment-only basis. Call today to make an appointment!
Source: www.apos.net
