By: Jessica Rayhanabad, M.D., Medical Director, Breast Surgery, MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute, Long Beach Medical Center
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women, after skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the average risk for a U.S. woman developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 12 percent. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer.
Thanks to decades of research and technological advancements, including the wide use of screening and diagnostic mammograms, most breast cancers are detected early enough for a successful lumpectomy. This is also known as breast conserving surgery. With breast conservation, the breast is saved and only a rim of normal breast tissue is removed surrounding the cancer.
In cases where a large portion of the breast needs to be removed, the breast can be left with a significant deformity. A separate reconstructive operation can be performed to reshape the breast. Rather than put a cancer patient through multiple operations, at the MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Medical Center, we use oncoplastic breast surgery to combine two operations into one outpatient oncoplastic lumpectomy.
Our approach to breast cancer combines breast surgical oncology with plastic surgery techniques to give the patient the best outcome. Both breasts are reshaped to correct any type of natural asymmetry, correct asymmetry resulting from the tumor removal, reshape and lift the breasts, and remove the cancer all at the same time.
With minimally invasive incisions, the oncology surgeon removes the tumor and nearby tissue from the affected breast. The plastic surgeon then removes an identical amount of tissue from the second breast. They sculpt the remaining tissue in both breasts to create matching, natural-looking contours, giving each breast a gentle lift. Areolas and nipples are often repositioned with little to no loss in sensation, and incisions are made around and beneath the areola, so that the natural contours of the breasts hide any scars.
Oncoplastic surgery is a good option for most, but not all breast cancer patients. Everyone is different, and there is no one solution to fit all needs. In the case of extensive cancer involving most of the breast tissue or inflammatory type of breast cancer, the patient would benefit from a mastectomy and reconstruction.
We use an integrated, multi-disciplinary team approach and always put our patients first to find a treatment plan that best suites all their needs. Our multi-disciplinary experts personalize breast cancer treatment using the most advanced technology from 3D mammography and breast MRI, to intraoperative radiation done at the same time as the lumpectomy, and offer the latest in clinical research.
We offer second opinion services, psychosocial oncology, support groups, physical rehabilitation specializing in breast cancer surgery patients, and nutritional support. The MemorialCare Breast Cancer Center at Long Beach Medical Center treats every person diagnosed with breast cancer with quality, compassionate care promoting wellness in mind, body and spirit.
To learn more or to request an appoint for a mammogram, visit memorialcare.org/LBBreast.