Understanding Surgical Options for Breast Cancer Patients

How often should women get a screening mammogram, and at what age?

Women with an average risk of breast cancer should schedule yearly screening mammograms, usually beginning at age 40. If you’re uncertain of your breast cancer risk, an appointment with a breast surgeon should be scheduled for a formal risk assessment.

If a breast cancer diagnosis is made, when does surgery typically take place?

Surgery is usually scheduled as quickly as possible. However, there are factors that figure into scheduling that can potentially push the date out. Sometimes patients need additional testing, or if a patient chooses to have a mastectomy with reconstruction, they need to meet with a plastic surgeon, which can cause delays in getting the surgery scheduled. There are some patients who need chemotherapy before surgery, and that can cause the operation to be delayed for as long as six months.

What surgical options are available for patients with breast cancer?

There are currently two standard surgical options: lumpectomy and mastectomy. The long-term survival for early stage breast cancer is the same for both treatment options, and lymph nodes can be sampled at the same time with either of these procedures.

What is the difference between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy?

Lumpectomy is a type of breast-conserving surgery. Only the cancer and a small rim of normal tissue is removed. The rest of the breast is left intact. For nearly all patients that choose to undergo breast-conserving surgery, radiation will follow. Mastectomy is a more invasive surgical option that removes the entire breast.

If a patient has a mastectomy, are they able to have reconstructive surgery?

Most patients are candidates to have breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, but it’s a personal decision based on how the patient wants their body to look and feel. There are multiple variables that factor into this decision that a patient should consider. Some of those variables are associated risks and complications that can come from the additional surgical procedures. Unfortunately, not all patients are healthy enough to have additional surgery, and the cost of additional surgery is important, though most insurance plans do cover the cost of reconstruction.

How long does it usually take to recover from breast cancer surgery?

Generally, recovery depends on the type of surgery performed. Most patients that elect for a lumpectomy procedure are able to resume normal activities and lifting within a week or two. If you decide to have a mastectomy, recovery is typically three to four weeks. If you decide on mastectomy with reconstruction, it can be as long as four to six weeks.

For more information, call 636.928.WELL

To schedule your mammogram, visit https://www.bjc.org/services/mammograph

Laurel Yeager, MD, FACS is a board-certified surgeon with Benrus Surgical, and she sees patients at both Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital and Progress West Hospital.