The visit to your breast surgeon will include a review of your pathology and mammogram results. At that time, the physician will explain a plan of care which will likely include either a lumpectomy or mastectomy with lymph node biopsy or lymph node removal.
There will be a lot of information given to you at this time and some decision making will be required on your part at this visit.
The following is a list of terms that you may hear at this appointment.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: A procedure in which dye is injected to identify the sentinel lymph node. This node would then be removed and checked for any evidence of cancer. At times there may be more than one node
removed.
Lumpectomy: A medical procedure in which only the tumor and a small section of normal breast tissue are removed, leaving the breast virtually intact.
Mastectomy: The surgical removal of a portion of or all of the breast.
Simple Mastectomy: The surgical removal of the breast tissue with the structures in the axilla (or armpit) undisturbed.
Modified Radical Mastectomy: The surgical removal of the breast tissue, and some lymph nodes under the arm and the lining of the chest muscles.
Radical Mastectomy: The surgical removal of the breast, all of the lymph nodes under the arm and lymph nodes under the chest muscles.
Additional Resource(s):
Questions to ask your Breast Surgeon:
- What kind of breast cancer do I have?
- Is there only one area or more than one?
- What does “grade” mean?
- What does “stage” mean? Can you tell from the biopsy report or will you wait for the pathology from surgery?
- What is the best approach to remove my cancer?
- If I have to have a mastectomy, am I a candidate for reconstruction?
- Do you remove any lymph nodes during surgery?
- What happens if cancer is found in my lymph nodes?
- How long does it take for the pathology to come back?
- Will I have a drain in after surgery? If so, how long does it stay in?
- What restrictions will I have after surgery?
- How long will I need to be off of work?