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Surgery is a main treatment for most cases of breast cancer.
There are two basic types of surgery—lumpectomy and mastectomy. Lumpectomy
removes the tumor and some normal tissue surrounding it. Mastectomy removes the
entire breast. Your cancer stage will determine how extensive the surgery needs
to be. When you start to explore your surgical options, ask your doctor about
oncoplastic surgery. Here are the basics to help you prepare for the discussion.
Oncoplastic breast surgery combines two surgeries into one.
Oncoplastic surgery for breast cancer combines cancer
surgery and plastic surgery into one procedure. Two surgeons work as a team to
complete the surgery. The first is a surgical oncologist or a breast surgeon.
This doctor will remove the cancerous tumor and some surrounding healthy breast
tissue. The second doctor is a plastic surgeon. This doctor will reshape or
reconstruct the remaining breast tissue to produce a more normal looking
breast. The plastic surgeon may also operate on the other breast to better
match the two breasts. Sometimes, breast surgeons have the experience and
expertise necessary to complete the entire procedure themselves.
Oncoplastic surgery may be an option for women undergoing breast-conserving
surgery.
Breast-conserving surgery is either a lumpectomy or a
partial mastectomy. These surgeries only remove part of the breast tissue. However,
about 30% of women undergoing these surgeries end up with a deformity in the
breast. The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 says you have the
right to correct this under your insurance. It also applies to surgery on the
other breast to create symmetry.
You are more likely to have a deformity when:
-
The surgeon must remove 20% or more of your
breast tissue. -
The tumor is located behind the nipple or in the
upper or inner quadrants of the breast.
Oncoplastic surgery often allows the surgeon to remove more
tissue—called a wide excision. This may mean some women can avoid mastectomy
for larger tumors.
Techniques for oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery
include:
-
Breast lift
-
Breast reduction
-
Nipple and areola repositioning
-
Volume redistribution
-
Volume replacement using muscles from the back
or abdomen
Patient satisfaction is high for oncoplastic breast surgery.
Studies suggest women are happier with the outcome after
oncoplastic surgery compared to breast cancer surgery alone. One study found
almost 90% of women had excellent outcomes. And more than 80% would make the
same choice again. Women also tend to have higher self-esteem and better mental
health after oncoplastic surgery. This is important because breast cancer
surgery can have emotional and psychological effects on top of the physical
effects.
Consider the limitations of oncoplastic surgery.
Like any procedure, oncoplastic surgery for breast cancer carries
the risk of complications. This may include infection and wound healing
problems. Oncoplastic breast surgery may also affect the ability to detect
cancer recurrence. This is due to scarring and other changes from rearranging
the tissue. It can be hard for doctors to tell the difference between these
changes and cancer recurrence on a mammogram.
However, studies have found a lower recurrence rate with
oncoplastic surgery compared to breast-conserving surgery alone. This may be
because doctors can remove more breast tissue surrounding the tumor that might
harbor undetected cancer cells.
Your doctor’s experience matters.
It’s true for just about any kind of surgery—the more
experience a doctor has, the better your result is likely to be. Ask how many
patients with your specific type of breast cancer the surgeon has treated. Also,
ask how many oncoplastic procedures the doctor has performed. Find out about
complication rates—complications the doctor has encountered as well as your own
risk of complications. If you have any doubts, consider getting a second
opinion before making your decision.