Types of breast cancer surgery

Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Breast cancer surgery types are generally still dominated by modified radical mastectomy. Modified radical mastectomy can be divided into two types; one preserves both the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles, and the other removes the pectoralis minor muscle but preserves the pectoralis major muscle. Another option is breast-conserving surgery, which is feasible for tumors smaller than three centimeters and at least two centimeters away from the nipple. Nowadays, sentinel lymph node biopsy has become popular. If it proves that the sentinel lymph node has no metastasis, a single mastectomy can be performed.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Early manifestations of breast cancer

Early-stage breast cancer is primarily characterized by a single, painless small lump, which is hard with unclear boundaries and a rough surface, blending indistinguishably with surrounding tissues and difficult to move within the breast. It is usually discovered accidentally or while bathing. Swollen lymph nodes may be present, and the nipple may be inverted with possible bloody discharge. As the tumor grows, it may invade the Cooper's ligaments, causing the skin to dimple, a condition known as peau d'orange. These are all early symptoms of breast cancer. If the condition progresses, it may lead to a skin texture resembling orange peel.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Early-stage breast cancer symptoms

Early-stage breast cancer may exhibit several symptoms. The first is the presence of breast lumps. The second symptom might be nipple discharge, which can be serous, watery, or milky in nature. The third symptom might involve changes in the skin over the breast tumor, including skin adhesion, such as dimpling, engorgement of superficial veins, skin reddening, localized increase in temperature, and an orange-peel texture. The fourth symptom includes abnormalities of the nipple and areola, potentially featuring nipple retraction, erosion of the nipple, thickening of the nipple epithelium, and reddening. The fifth symptom could be breast pain.

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Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
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Causes of Breast Cancer

The causes of breast cancer are not yet fully understood, but research has shown that the onset of breast cancer follows certain patterns and is related to various risk factors: The first is the age of onset for female breast cancer, which is generally low from ages zero to twenty-four, gradually increases after twenty-five, and peaks from fifty to fifty-four years old. So, the first factor is related to age; The second factor is genetics. If a mother or sister has breast cancer, then the individual’s likelihood of developing breast cancer may be higher, making family history a relevant factor; The third point involves risk factors related to the breast, including early menarche (before the age of twelve), late menopause (after the age of fifty-five), being unmarried, nulliparous, late marriage, and not breastfeeding. These factors also tend to increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer; The fourth point is that benign breast conditions, if not promptly diagnosed and treated, could potentially transform into malignant tumors; The fifth point includes potential exposure to radiation, long-term use of exogenous estrogens, postmenopausal obesity, chronic alcohol consumption, and an irregular lifestyle, all of which can also have an impact.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Thymus cancer and breast cancer differences

Thymic cancer, which refers to the malignant tumor that occurs in the thymus, predominantly presents as squamous cell carcinoma. It generally arises in the mediastinum, with clinical symptoms such as chest pain, cough, and breathing difficulties. Breast cancer, on the other hand, refers to the malignant tumor occurring in the breast tissue, with invasive ductal carcinoma being the most common type. Its symptoms often include unintentionally discovered breast lumps, or metastasis to axillary lymph nodes, felt as enlargement of these nodes. Therefore, these two diseases differ in their sites of origin, symptoms, pathological types, and treatments.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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early symptoms of breast cancer

Breast cancer commonly occurs in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, with a hard, stone-like texture, mostly presenting as solitary masses that can be round, oval, or irregular in shape. These tumors have limited mobility and tend to adhere to the skin and surrounding tissues. However, the size of the mass does not change with menstrual cycles or emotional fluctuations, and it can grow rapidly in a short period. It predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly women. Additionally, mammography can reveal tiny calcifications, abnormal vascular patterns, and spiculated changes.