Breast Surgery

Introduction

Together with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, breast surgery is one of the most common forms of treatment we offer here at Hospital Picaso. Breast surgery and its subsequent care is also part of our dedicated Breast Centre. Many breast cancer patients in stages I, II and III are treated with some form of surgical procedure.

Common Conditions

Initially, most breast cancer patients do not feel any pain or any noticeable symptoms. Lumps on the breast or near the armpit are common early signs of breast cancer, but may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions by patients.

In order to have an accurate understanding of the growth within the breast, patients may have to undergo ultrasound, mammogram screenings, or have a biopsy performed. Once a diagnosis is made and all avenues of treatment are considered, only then would surgery be an option.

As the cancer cells progress and spread to other tissues and organs, breast cancer patients may suffer from:

Difficulty breathing
Pain
Fatigue
Weight loss
Digestive issues

Early detection is the most important factor that determines a patient’s survival rate. If you notice anything different with your breast during a breast self-examination, it is best to inform your doctor.

Treatments

Surgical procedures for breast cancer patients include:

Mastectomy - removal of the entirety or majority of a breast
Breast-conserving surgery
Wide local excision
Oncoplastic procedures with breast-conserving surgery (breast reshaping)
Skin/nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction
Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)

Patients who underwent mastectomy may also decide to undergo breast reconstruction surgery to restore the shape of the breast. Other alternatives include using breast prostheses, which are artificial breast forms that fit inside the bra.

While breast surgery cases in Hospital Picaso are usually breast cancer patients, our surgeons also remove non-cancerous lumps or treat other breast conditions with surgery, depending on the severity.

Plastic surgery options such as breast augmentation (increasing the size of the breast) and reduction mammoplasty (reducing the size of the breast) are also available here at Hospital Picaso.