Women's breasts from the earliest times are considered the main symbol of femininity and fertility. It is a subject of female pride and an object of increased attention on the part of men. At all times women's breasts were admired by artists, it was sung by poets. Today, unfortunately, the breast is most often spoken by mammologists and oncologists: according to statistics, breast cancer is the most common oncological disease in the world. And very often the only way to save a patient's life is by surgery to remove breasts, or mastectomy.
In what cases are the breasts removed?
Most of the operations for the removal of mammary glands are carried out for the treatment and prevention of cancer, both in women and men. Mastectomy is used to remove additional mammary glands, as well as additional lobes of the breast.
How is the operation to remove the breast?
The operation to remove the breast tumor is carried out under general anesthesia. Surgical intervention lasts from 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the type of operation. There are several types of mastectomy, the choice of which depends on the stage of the disease:
- Lumpectomy - remove the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue;
- ordinary mastectomy - the mammary gland is completely removed;
- radical mastectomy - remove not only the breast, but also associated with it lymph nodes, as well as pectoral muscles;
- modified radical mastectomy - only the mammary gland and some lymph nodes are removed.
Immediately after the removal of the breast it is possible to reconstruct it or postpone it for a later period.
Postoperative period after breast removal
After surgery to remove the breast, the patient remains in the hospital for 2-3 days, this is the most painful period. In addition, the patient may develop complications after removal of the mammary glands:
- bleeding;
- infection of the wound;
- lymphedema (swelling of the hand);
- accumulation of fluid (seroma) at the site of the incision;
- pain and numbness of the skin;
- wrong scarring.
When discharging home doctors advise in the first 6 weeks to avoid physical activity, do not lift weights (more than 2 kg), but do not leave your hand without moving. In 1-2 weeks after the operation it will be necessary to consult a doctor and discuss the results with him. It may be necessary to treat the breast after removal - a course of radiation or chemotherapy.
Life after breast removal
Breast removal is a serious psychological trauma for a woman: a serious depression can join the pain after removal of the breast. Therefore, doctors recommend to return to normal life as soon as possible. Of great importance in the recovery is the support of relatives, as well as those who have already undergone a mastectomy. In addition, it is important to have a regular sex life - this will help a woman not feel defective.
A month after the operation, you can wear a prosthesis, and two months later - think about a breast reconstruction operation.