What Are the Pros and Cons of Getting a Mastectomy for Breast Cancer?

A mastectomy for breast cancer is an invasive surgery that involves removal of all the breast’s tissue. Although a lumpectomy is a less invasive option for treating breast cancer, both mastectomies and lumpectomies have pros and cons. A mastectomy can result in uneven breasts and has a significant recovery time, but it reduces the chances of the cancer recurring. A lumpectomy requires a short recovery time and allows a patient to keep her breast, but it also requires the woman to go through chemotherapy.

Mastectomy is a common procedure performed on breast cancer patients and involves removal of the entire affected breast. Typically, the nipple and muscle system of the breast are left in place, but occasionally those too are removed. Depending on the extent of the cancer, a patient may or may not have to go through chemotherapy after this surgery. Some women who are at a high risk for breast cancer choose to have a mastectomy, as a preventative measure, before they experience any cancer. After most mastectomies, reconstructive surgery is preformed to create the appearance of a normal breast.

Women in the early stages of breast cancer may have the option of having a lumpectomy preformed instead of a mastectomy for breast cancer. A lumpectomy involves removing only the part of the breast that is affected by cancer, leaving the healthy breast tissue behind. After the lump is removed, the patient goes through several weeks of radiation therapy to make sure that the cancer is completely eradicated. This procedure is less invasive than a mastectomy and has a much shorter healing time.

One benefit of a mastectomy for breast cancer is that it greatly reduces the chances of the cancer returning. A lumpectomy may remove the cancer, but there is still a chance that it may might to affect the remaining breast tissue. Removing the entire breast, including the healthy tissue, can alleviate the anxiety a patient may experience about a recurrence.

Although beneficial in preventing future cancer, a mastectomy can also leave a woman’s breasts uneven unless reconstructive surgery is completed. A lumpectomy may be a better decision for a patient who is concerned about the appearance of her breasts or who is especially concerned about keeping her own breasts instead of undergoing reconstructive surgery. A lumpectomy is a less invasive procedure than a mastectomy and can often be completed with little deformation to the body.If the cancer is large and a significant amount of tissue must be removed, sometimes unevenness in the size of the breasts still occurs.

Even though a lumpectomy preserves the natural breast, patients who go through a lumpectomy must usually go through chemotherapy. Chemotherapy produces a number of side effects, including hair loss, fatigue, and nausea. Some patients may choose a mastectomy for breast cancer in order to avoid these side effects, as the chances of needing radiation after a mastectomy are lower than after a lumpectomy.