Nipple Sparing Mastectomy Surgery - One Option to Consider

There are many physical as well as psychological affects of having one or both breasts removed. There are likely to be less psychological problems if a patient chooses the nipple sparing mastectomy. This surgery will likely help the emotional recovery of a cancer patient because it will bring them closer to looking normal after their surgery.

Although a patient will appear more normal after a nipple sparing mastectomy, it is important for the patient to realize that they will not have the feeling in this area any longer or at least not as much. Even with this however, it is still better than having that area removed as it is in a normal breast removal.

The process of this surgery will leave an empty sac where the tissue from the breast was removed. During the nipple sparing mastectomy skin will be spared as well. The skin of the breast area that is left will actually be filled with tissue from another part of the body so that the breast will appear as close to normal as possible.

Before receiving a nipple sparing mastectomy you should ask about the risk factors of leaving the nipples there. Your surgeon should be able to tell you whether the location or locations of your cancer cause there to be any risks of cancer in the nipples. It is always wise to cover all of your bases. This is especially important if the surgeon doing your surgery is not your oncologist. You will want to make sure that they are familiar with your history.

At one time, this type of surgery was used mainly to improve cosmetic results from breast surgery. Today it is a combination of cosmetic reasons as well as better tissue removal that the nipple sparing mastectomy is done. In the 1970s, the results of this surgery were not as good as they are today. This surgery was rarely done for cancer. It was more often done to prevent cancer or for fibrocystic disease.

As in many areas of medicine, advances have been made. As you consider your options for breast cancer surgery, you would be wise to include this option. The doctors who do the surgery will try to remove as much tissue as possible from the interior of the breast, but that will be replaced, and your breast will hopefully have a more natural appearance than if you did an alternative treatment.

The main thing to remember as you have breast cancer surgery is that you want the cancer gone and to stay that way. Make sure to consult with your oncologist as well as your surgeon about what your best options are.