Breast cancer surgery: Is it safe?
Written in association with:
Surgeon
Published: 29/07/2019
Edited by: Sophie Kennedy
If you’re going to have breast cancer surgery, it’s understandable to feel worried about the procedure itself and what you can expect to happen on the day. We invited revered consultant oncoplastic and breast surgeon Ms Monika Kaushik to answer the most commonly asked questions on breast cancer surgery and offer reassurance for patients in this informative article.
Is breast cancer surgery a dangerous procedure?
Breast cancer surgery is very safe. The most commonly performed breast cancer operations, such as a lumpectomy and a mastectomy, take around one or two hours and almost all women go home either on the same or the next day.
Is a lumpectomy considered a major surgery?
The lumpectomy operation takes around one hour to perform. Oftentimes it is done as a day case and is considered to be what is known as “intermediate risk surgery.”
What type of anaesthesia is used?
The operation is done under general anaesthesia, making the operation “intermediate risk surgery” rated.
Can a lumpectomy cause cancer to spread?
During the lumpectomy procedure, the surgeon goes around the cancer to remove it, so it is not possible for the cancer to spread during the lumpectomy.
How long do you stay in hospital after breast cancer surgery?
The duration of stay in the hospital depends on the type of surgery. After a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, most women go home either on the same day or the next day. Following breast reconstruction surgery, the patient stay often varies from two to five days depending on the type of reconstructive surgery.
After implant surgery, women who opt for reconstruction surgery are home in one to two days, whereas after Lattisimus Dorsi reconstruction, this could extend to two to three days or five days in the case of free flap type of reconstruction.
How soon do you start radiation after a lumpectomy?
Following a lumpectomy, if chemotherapy is not needed, then the radiotherapy treatment will commence six weeks after the surgery. If chemotherapy is necessary and required, the radiotherapy will start on completion of chemotherapy treatment in six months after surgery.
Do not hesitate to book an appointment with Ms Kaushik if you would like to discuss your options following a breast cancer diagnosis.