October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a time when we focus on education, early detection, and treatment options for a disease that affects millions of women worldwide.
And if you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, you probably know that the number of decisions you have to make can feel overwhelming. Our team is here to help. Elvira Klause, MD, FACS, specializes in breast cancer surgery in Laguna Hills, California.
One of the biggest choices for many women when it comes to breast cancer treatment is deciding between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy.
Understanding the differences between these surgical options can help you make an informed choice that aligns with your medical needs and personal preferences. Here’s what you need to know.
Lumpectomy is sometimes called breast-conserving surgery. It involves removing the cancerous tumor along with a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue.
The goal of a lumpectomy is to excise the cancer while preserving as much of your breast as possible. Dr. Klause typically recommends following lumpectomy with radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce your risk of recurrence.
Mastectomy, on the other hand, involves removing your entire breast, including all your breast tissue, nipple, and areola. There are different types of mastectomies, ranging from simple (removing only breast tissue) to radical (removing your breast, underlying chest muscles, and lymph nodes).
Dr. Klause may recommend a mastectomy if the cancer is large or if it involves multiple areas of your breast. Sometimes, mastectomy may be the best option if you have a strong family history of breast cancer, which raises the risk of recurrence.
Each woman's journey with breast cancer is unique. The decision between lumpectomy and mastectomy is deeply personal, and Dr. Klause is here to help you make your choice with careful consideration. Here are some factors that can affect your decision:
The size and location of the tumor play a significant role in determining which surgery is most appropriate for you. If the tumor is small and localized, a lumpectomy may be the right choice. But if the tumor is large or spread across multiple areas, a mastectomy might be the better option.
Women with smaller breasts may find that a lumpectomy removes a significant portion of their breast tissue, leading to noticeable changes in breast shape. In these cases, a mastectomy with reconstruction may be worth considering to achieve a more balanced appearance.
Since mastectomy removes all your breast tissue, it can minimize your risk of cancer recurrence. This may be an appealing option for some women, especially if they have a strong family history of breast cancer or carry genetic mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2.
Your feelings about your body, the importance of breast preservation, and your willingness to undergo radiation therapy after a lumpectomy are all important considerations, too.
Some women prefer the idea of conserving their breast tissue, while others feel more comfortable opting for a mastectomy to eliminate as much of the cancerous tissue as possible.
Ultimately, the decision between lumpectomy and mastectomy should be based on an open discussion with Dr. Klause and what feels right for you, both physically and emotionally. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and our team is ready to help you take the next step to reclaiming your health.
We can help you weigh the pros and cons of each option, and we take into account your medical history, the specifics of your diagnosis, and your personal values.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is not only about promoting early detection and treatment but also about empowering women with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health.
Contact our Laguna Hill, California, office at 949-245-6910 or request an appointment online to get started.
