How long does breast cancer surgery take?

Written by Cui Yu Rong

Breast Surgery

Updated on January 07, 2025

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There are many types of surgery for breast cancer clinically, and the most commonly used currently are the modified radical mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. The timing of the breast cancer surgery, the specific surgical method, anesthesia method, the proficiency of the surgeon, and whether rapid pathology is needed during surgery are all factors that affect the duration; therefore, the surgery time is not fixed. In most cases, the modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer takes about two hours. If rapid pathology is needed during the surgery, the time may also be extended accordingly, so it needs to be determined based on the specific situation.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie

Breast Surgery

1min 1sec

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Breast cancer surgery accompaniment for a few days

The duration of postoperative care for breast cancer surgery depends on the extent of the surgery. This includes modified radical mastectomy, classic radical mastectomy, and surgeries that preserve both the breast and the axilla. For surgeries that preserve the breast and axilla, patients typically recover quickly, and generally, providing care for three to five days is more than sufficient. However, to ensure patients feel comforted and cared for, it's common to provide care starting the day before surgery until the patient is discharged. Postoperative care tends to be longer for modified radical mastectomies that include axillary clearance, as care is needed until the patient can fully manage the arm on the operated side on their own. Therefore, the care duration varies depending on the individual and their recovery. Thus, the shortest duration of care is usually for surgeries that preserve both the breast and axilla, typically sufficient within three to five days.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie

Breast Surgery

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Breast Cancer Metastasizes to Which Locations

Breast cancer metastasis generally follows the following sites due to its anatomical structure and specific characteristics. The most common sites are the axilla, the contralateral breast, the contralateral axilla, and the areas above and below the clavicle, which is also known as the pipa bone, referring to the areas above and below the pipa bone. As for distant organs, based on the frequency or likelihood of occurrence, the most common are the lungs, bones, liver, and the brain, specifically within the head. These are referred to as the lungs, bones, liver, and head, which are the places most prone to distant organ metastasis.

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Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

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What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The first sign of breast cancer can be a lump in the breast, where lumps might be palpable in the upper outer quadrant of the breast; the second symptom might be nipple discharge or bleeding; the third symptom might be pain in the breast; the fourth symptom might involve changes in the skin of the breast, such as the skin becoming rough and possibly developing an orange peel texture; the fifth symptom might be nipple retraction and changes in the areola.

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Written by Lin Yang

Breast Surgery

58sec

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Where does breast cancer usually hurt?

Breast cancer generally is painless, early stages present as a painless, solitary, small lump that is hard and has an uneven surface, with unclear boundaries with the surrounding tissue and is difficult to move within the breast. It is usually discovered accidentally by the patient or while bathing. As breast cancer continues to grow, it invades the Cooper's ligaments, causing contraction, hence the skin over the lump often appears puckered, a sign commonly referred to as dimpling, indicative of early-stage breast cancer. As the cancer progresses, it often causes the breast to shrink and harden, elevates the nipple, and may involve the milk ducts, leading to nipple retraction or indentation. It can also significantly increase in size within months, causing the affected breast to become larger and protrude. Breast cancer, invading the chest muscles and fascia, may fix the lump to the chest wall, making it difficult to move.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie

Breast Surgery

52sec

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Does breast cancer require chemotherapy?

Not all breast cancer requires chemotherapy, which is just one method in the comprehensive treatment of breast cancer. Comprehensive treatment for breast cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, biological targeted therapy, and also traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Chemotherapy, in particular, can be described as a double-edged sword that kills both cancerous and normal cells. If the breast cancer is in an early stage, especially if the genetic typing is favorable, there might be an opportunity to forego chemotherapy. However, unfortunately, as of now, a significant portion of breast cancer cases still require chemotherapy. Therefore, it is necessary to communicate with professional doctors and analyze each specific case individually; one cannot generalize the treatment.