Generally, in the early stages of breast cancer, patients often do not experience any pain as a warning. However, what every woman can observe in herself before the cancer spreads is any abnormalities occurring in the breast area, whether it is a lump in the breast, changes in the size and shape of the breast, wrinkles, dimpling, contraction, or swelling. Oncoplastic breast cancer surgery is a technique that applies plastic surgery methods to breast cancer surgery, aiming for two important outcomes: complete removal of the cancerous lump and maintaining a beautiful breast shape.
If there is itching or abnormal redness of the nipple, especially if there is blood or discharge from the nipple or swelling of the armpit, these may be warning signs of breast cancer. Therefore, if any abnormalities as mentioned are found, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
When it is time for breast cancer surgery
If breast cancer treatment reaches the surgical stage, the doctor will clearly explain the options and different surgical methods to the patient. Breast cancer surgery can be performed in various ways, such as a total mastectomy, which is usually done in cases where cancer occurs in multiple spots and the lump is large, especially if the patient does not want to preserve the breast. However, if the doctor considers that the disease, stage, and patient are suitable for breast-conserving surgery, and the patient wishes to have a beautiful breast for their personal life or confidence in wearing clothes and socializing, the patient can choose Oncoplastic Surgery. The surgical approach by the doctor, regardless of the method chosen, is…
“To avoid destroying the breast by focusing on completely removing only the malignant tumor, preserving the healthy parts to maintain the original breast as much as possible, whether through oncoplastic surgery or breast reconstruction.”
What is Oncoplastic Surgery?
Oncoplastic breast cancer surgery is a technique that applies plastic surgery methods to breast cancer surgery, aiming for two important outcomes: complete removal of the cancerous lump and maintaining a beautiful breast shape without distortion or unsightly scars. The doctor will consider both surgical outcomes as well as the opposite breast that is not affected by cancer, possibly performing a reduction or reshaping surgery on the other breast to achieve symmetry.
This oncoplastic breast cancer surgery technique can be applied to both total mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery, with the same goal of completely removing the cancer while preserving the breast’s appearance as close to the original as possible. For patients undergoing total mastectomy, oncoplastic surgery means immediate breast reconstruction performed simultaneously with the cancer surgery.
Key principles of Oncoplastic Surgery
Oncoplastic Surgery’s key principle is to completely remove the cancerous lump from the breast tissue while preserving the skin covering the breast tissue and, in some cases, the nipple. Then, medical materials are used to replace the removed breast tissue, and the skin is closed back to create a new breast shape as close to the original as possible. Currently, the use of abdominal or back muscles to replace removed cancerous tissue is not favored because it involves extensive surgery, unnecessary additional scars, and can negatively affect muscles and the patient’s long-term quality of life.
4 precautions when choosing Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgery
- Patient selection must be appropriate. Surgery should be avoided in patients with a high risk of recurrence, those with multiple cancer spots in various locations, or those with very large tumors.
- Patients with small breasts and large tumors are not suitable for this method because there are limitations in removing enough tissue for reconstruction, increasing the risk of cancer recurrence.
- The surgeon must be skilled in making incisions in appropriate locations to avoid unsightly scars or breast distortion later, especially after radiation therapy, which may require corrective surgery involving total mastectomy and reconstruction.
- This surgical method requires radiation therapy in all cases, which can cause shrinkage and distortion of breast shape over time, so careful planning is necessary.
