Mosaic bust created and kindly donated by Denise Flett,
Breast Care Nurse
Mastectomy
A mastectomy is an operation that removes the entire breast, and is the treatment of choice for larger tumours or multiple tumours. It is also needed for women in whom it is not safe to have a partial mastectomy, because there is extensive cancer.
A simple mastectomy includes the complete removal of the breast with no removal of lymph nodes. However, these days, mastectomy is usually accompanied by sentinel node biopsy, or axillary dissection.
Surgical procedure
Breast cancer surgery is done under general anesthesia and usually takes two to three hours. During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision, which may extend to the armpit if the lymph nodes are removed, and removes the breast. Usually two drains are left in place, one under the breast wound and the other under the armpit. A mastectomy procedure can be followed by immediate breast reconstruction, which is performed by our plastic surgeon.
Dissolving sutures are used in the wound. You will usually be in hospital one or two nights and go home with one drain in your armpit. Our breast nurse will explain how to manage the drain.