Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast grow uncontrollably, forming a lump or mass. There are different types of breast cancer depending on which type of (lobules, milk ducts, or other fatty tissues) cells in the breast turn into cancer.

Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancers are divided into two categories:

1. Invasive (spread to other parts of the breast or nearby organs)
2. Non-invasive (confined to the breast tissue).

Invasive Breast Cancers

• Invasive Ductal Carcinoma– It originates in the milk ducts and spreads to nearby tissues.
• Inflammatory Breast Cancer– In this type of cancer, the cancerous cells block the lymph nodes, resulting in the breast looking inflamed.
• Invasive Lobular Carcinoma– It originates in the lobules (where breast milk is developed) and spreads to nearby tissues.
• Paget Disease– It develops in the nipple ducts and spreads to the areola and nipple skin.
• Phyllodes Tumors– These tumors occur in the breast’s connective tissue. Generally, they are benign, but some can be cancerous.
• Angiosarcoma – It grows in the lining of blood vessels or lymph nodes of the breast.

Non-Invasive Breast Cancers

• Lobular Carcinoma in Situ – It originates in the milk-producing glands (lobules). It is technically not considered to be cancer. However, it does put you at risk for other invasive cancers.
• Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)–This type of cancer occurs in the milk ducts.

Breast Cancer Operation

Surgery is usually recommended to patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer and non-invasive breast cancer like DCIS. It involves removing the tumor and a part of the healthy surrounding tissue. The amount of healthy tissue removed varies depending on the location of the tumor, how far it has spread, and your personal preferences. Your surgeon will also remove some lymph nodes under the arm to test them for the presence of cancer cells. This will help them plan your treatment after surgery.

However, breast cancer surgery includes different procedures. Your doctor will choose the treatment that’s best suited for you, depending on the following factors:

• The size, extent, and stage of your breast cancer.
• Your other treatment options. Sometimes, breast cancer surgery is performed in combination with other treatments, such as hormone therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy.
• Your treatment goals and preferences.

Types of Breast Cancer Surgery

Simple or Total Mastectomy

This procedure involves removing your entire breast, including the nipple. However, your lymph nodes (small glands in your immune system) will not be removed. Your surgeon will recommend this procedure to prevent breast cancer if you have an increased risk for it or when cancer has not spread to your lymph nodes.

Modified Radical Mastectomy

This is often recommended for patients with invasive breast cancer. Your surgeon will remove your entire breast tissue, including your nipple and lymph nodes in the armpit, and leave your chest muscles intact. The removed lymph nodes will be sent to the laboratory to test whether cancer has spread to them or through them to other areas.

Radical Mastectomy

Your surgeon will recommend this procedure only if cancer has spread to your chest muscles. It involves removing your entire breast tissue, including your lymph nodes, nipple, and chest wall muscles under the breast.

Skin-Sparing Mastectomy

Your surgeon will remove the skin of your nipple, areola, and where the tumor is removed, leaving the rest of the skin intact so that they can be used for breast reconstruction. This procedure may not work if you have cancer cells near your skin or plan to wait for breast reconstruction.

Lumpectomy (Partial Mastectomy)

Your surgeon will remove the cancer tumor and some surrounding breast tissue. However, you will need to have radiation treatment following surgery.

The partial mastectomy procedure is not recommended for patients who:

• Are pregnant
• Won’t or cannot have radiation
• Have cancer grown outside the breast tissue
• Have a large tumor

Lymph Node Surgery

This procedure is performed to see how far cancer has spread. It is done either during the original surgery or later. Types of lymph node surgery for breast cancer include:

• Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND)–Your surgeon will remove 10 to 20 lymph nodes under the arm and test them for cancer cells.
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy–Your surgeon will remove the lymph node from where cancer would have first spread. Compared to LAND, this surgery has lesser chances of causing lymphedema (swelling in the arm).

Breast reconstruction

Some patients will consider breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy. In this process, your surgeon will create a new breast shape for you. You can discuss with your surgeon about the various breast reconstruction options before the surgery. You can have immediate reconstruction where your breast reconstruction surgery occurs immediately after the breast removal or opt for delayed reconstruction.

However, some women prefer not to have a reconstruction surgery because either they would like to get back to their routine life as soon as possible or find prostheses uncomfortable or wish to avoid wearing them. You can discuss your breast reconstruction options with your surgeon.

If you or a loved one is looking for effective and affordable breast cancer treatments, then Chesapeake Oncology Hematology Associates is your choice. Contact our medical team today for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment or if you have any questions concerning the condition.