A mastectomy is a procedure in which entire breast tissue is removed from a breast in order to treat or prevent breast cancer.
A mastectomy may be an option for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Another alternative is breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), in which just the tumor is removed from the breast.
Mastectomy procedures are a lot for the body to recover from. Sometimes lymph nodes need to be removed which affects the whole system. We’ve seen clients who may get Lymph Edema because of this. Other clients are fortunate and keep their Lymph systems intact.
Regardless, we always incorporate the system when massaging. We help the swelling and work on the scar. Scar work is important! We help make it more pliable, a thick scar pulls on the body during movement. We help the arm have a good range of motion, without discomfort. We would love to help you or a loved one. We have Lymphatic massage under, Medical massage. Here, we inform our clients on how we will work (modalities of massage) and what to expect, we keep to your comfort level, and we go over what their home care looks like with massage.
Mastectomy for breast cancer treatment
A mastectomy may be a treatment option for many types of breast cancer, including:
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or noninvasive breast cancer
- Stages I and II (early-stage) breast cancer
- Stage III (locally advanced) breast cancer — after chemotherapy
- Inflammatory breast cancer — after chemotherapy
- Paget’s disease of the breast
- Locally recurrent breast cancer
Your doctor may recommend a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy plus radiation if:
- You have two or more tumors in separate areas of the breast.
- You have widespread or malignant-appearing calcium deposits (microcalcifications) throughout the breast that have been determined to be cancer after a breast biopsy.
- You’ve previously had radiation treatment to the breast region and the breast cancer has recurred in the breast.
- You’re pregnant and radiation creates an unacceptable risk to your unborn child.
- You’ve had a lumpectomy, but cancer is still present at the edges (margin) of the operated area and there is concern about cancer extending to elsewhere in the breast.
- You carry a gene mutation that gives you a high risk of developing a second cancer in your breast.
- You have a large tumor relative to the overall size of your breast. You may not have enough healthy tissue left after a lumpectomy to achieve an acceptable cosmetic result.
- You have a connective tissue disease, such as scleroderma or lupus, and may not tolerate the side effects of radiation to the skin.
These are some things our clients may be going through. We are here to help!