radical mastectomy
Quick Summary
A radical mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a breast, typically to treat cancer. This surgery involves the removal of the entire breast, the underlying pectoral muscles, and the axillary lymph nodes. It is most effective when cancer is detected early and is localized.1
While a radical mastectomy aims to remove all cancerous tissue, including a margin of surrounding tissue, other types of mastectomies exist. A modified radical mastectomy, for instance, removes the breast but preserves the pectoral muscles. In recent decades, the modified procedure has often been preferred due to similar survival rates and better cosmetic and functional outcomes compared to the standard radical mastectomy. For early-stage breast cancer, a lumpectomy (removing only the tumor) followed by radiation therapy may offer similar benefits with less psychological distress than a radical mastectomy.12
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breast cancerTreatmentRadical mastectomies involving removal of the breast, underlying muscle, and other tissue are rarely performed. Surgery is associated with a wide range of side effects, including changes in arm or shoulder mobility, swelling, infection, numbness, and, when lymph nodes are removed, fluid buildup in the…
Read MoreRadical mastectomies involving removal of the breast, underlying muscle, and other tissue are rarely performed. Surgery is associated with a wide range of side effects, including changes in arm or shoulder mobility, swelling, infection, numbness, and, when lymph nodes are removed, fluid buildup in the…
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…procedure known as the standard radical mastectomy consists of the removal of the entire breast, the supporting pectoral muscles, and the axillary lymph nodes. A supraradical mastectomy is a standard radical mastectomy plus the removal of the internal mammary and supraclavicular nodes. An extended radical mastectomy is the standard radical…
Read More…procedure known as the standard radical mastectomy consists of the removal of the entire breast, the supporting pectoral muscles, and the axillary lymph nodes. A supraradical mastectomy is a standard radical mastectomy plus the removal of the internal mammary and supraclavicular nodes. An extended radical mastectomy is the standard radical…
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therapeuticsSurgical extirpationRadical surgery may not always be best, as in the early stages of breast cancer. Removal of the entire breast and surrounding structures, including the axillary lymph nodes, has been shown to provide no greater benefit than a lumpectomy (removal of the tumour only) followed…
Read MoreRadical surgery may not always be best, as in the early stages of breast cancer. Removal of the entire breast and surrounding structures, including the axillary lymph nodes, has been shown to provide no greater benefit than a lumpectomy (removal of the tumour only) followed…
Read More