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Type of Surgery

Surgery.com / Cancer / Simple Mastectomy

Information

Definition
Purpose
Demographics
Description
Diagnosis/Preparation
Aftercare
Risks
Normal results
Morbidity/Mortality
Alternatives

Resources

Last updated: 11/24/2009

Resources

BOOKS

A Breast Cancer Journey. Atlanta: American Cancer Society, 2001.

PERIODICALS

"American Women Still Having Too Many Mastectomies."Women's Health Weekly (February 6, 2003): 20.

Jancin, Bruce. "High U.S. Mastectomy Rate Is Cause for Concern."Family Practice News 33, no.2 (January 15, 2003): 31–32.

"Procedure Preserves Natural Appearance after Mastectomy."AORN Journal 77, no.1 (January 2003): 213–1.

Zepf, Bill. "Mastectomy vs. Less Invasive Surgery for Breast Cancer."American Family Physician 67, no.3 (February 1, 2003): 587.

ORGANIZATIONS

American Cancer Society. (800) ACS-2345. .

American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 444 E. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005. (888) 475-2784. .

National Cancer Institute. 6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC8322, Suite 3036A, Bethesda, MD 20892-8322. (800) 422-6237. .

Video
Images

A modified radical mastectomy is a major surgery used to treat breast cancer. This animation shows which anatomical structures are removed during a modified radical mastectomy and how the procedure is different from other forms of mastectomy (breast removal surgery).

The lymphatic system keeps our tissues from retaining fluid and houses many of the key components of the immune system, like lymph nodes. Learn how this underappreciated body system is organized and how it functions.

Argosy Medical Animation Aging Bone

This video shows the constant battle between the two main cell types in bone, osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoblasts builds bone while osteoclasts dissolve bone for renovation and remodeling. The video explains how these cells influence the strength of bone throughout life.

3D Medical Animation - What is Cancer?

This narrated animation explains how normal cells sometimes change and turn into cancer cells. It touches on some of the causes and the prevalence of cancer and cancer deaths in the population.

Science Animation 17- Influenza Virus

The influenza virus, the pathogen that causes the flu, infect the cells of the respiratory system as shown in this animation. The immune system response to influenza virus infection is also shown.

In a simple mastectomy, the skin over the tumor is cut open (A). The tumor and tissue surrounding it are removed (B), and the wound is closed (C). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)

Related Procedures

Breast Reduction Breast Implants Breast Biopsy

Breast Reconstruction Adrenalectomy

Other Information

Simple mastectomy (or "total mastectomy"): In this procedure, the entire breast tissue is removed, but axillary contents are undisturbed. Sometimes the "sentinel lymph node"--that is, the first axillary lymph node that the would be expected to drain into--is removed. This surgery is sometimes done bilaterally (on both breasts) on patients who wish to undergo mastectomy as a cancer-preventative measure. Patients who undergo simple mastectomy can usually leave the hospital after a brief stay. Frequently, a drainage tube is inserted during surgery in their chest and attached to a small suction device to remove subcutaneous fluid. These are usually removed several days after surgery as drainage decrease to less than 20-30 ml per day.

From yhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastectomy#Types_of_mastectomy

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