This is the most common method that is used for the treatment of breast cancer. It is a goal to cut out any tumor from the breast. Normally, they will do this when the cancer has been determine to have not spread from the breast to the lymph nodes as a from a treatment. However, they may also remove it when the cancer has spread to be sure the tumor does not have a cancer to continue to migrate more cells as a threat to the body’s other organs. The doctor will review all the purposes, risk and other aspects of surgery when the time comes to schedule and operation. And that will be when you can sit down and find out about things such as how long you will be in the hospital to recover as well as any time that will be require to be off work.

Those are all part of the process that anyone going through surgery will have to know. With all the issues and concerns that arise from the issue of surgery it can be a bit overwhelming to remember every detail and concern. Often the doctor’s office will issue you a list of things to know and any special preparation needed prior to the operation. Many times you will need to go for a pre-surgery examination where a nurse will do a general check up of vitals to have on file for the surgeon to review. And there will be a need to visit the anesthesiologist to go over the particulars of what will be involved with being put to sleep during the operation.

With cancer surgery for the breast it normally involves one of two forms of surgery. There is the breast-sparing surgery that will remove the tumor and any surrounding infect tissue. Often samples of the area will need to be sent to the pathologist to make sure the entire cancer is cut out. This can contribute to why such surgeries can take several hours. And with this form of surgery the only part of the breast that is cancerous is removed. So it is an attempt to save the breast when it is possible. This will naturally leave scars and the doctor can discuss any concerns you might have on that aspect of the surgery. All of that can be fully discussed prior to actually having the operation. It is part of the way that doctors work to help prepare a patient for surgery. Following this form of surgery most often the patient will receive some radiation therapy. It will destroy any remaining cancer cells in the breast.

The other from of surgery is a mastectomy. This is where the entire breast is removed or as much of the breast tissue as possible. For this type of radical surgery they will normally also have radiation therapy following the operation. It has been found that for both types of surgeries the survival rates with Stage 1 and Stage 2 are about the same.

During both types of operations the surgeon will often remove the lymph nodes. This will be if a biopsy reveals there was cancer evident in the lymph nodes. In such case they will removed a certain number to see if they can remove all the cancer. They will have to be sent to the pathologist to have then examined and then the results will come after they have been analyzed. There are often some side effects to having the lymph nodes removed. The surgeon should be able to explain them prior to actually having the surgery so you can be prepared when you experience those effects.

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