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Patient Education Company
Your doctor understands that all medical care benefits from close collaboration between physician and patient -- so be sure to review, with your doctor, all risks and alternatives and make sure you understand the reasons behind the recommendation for this particular procedure.
Now let's talk in detail about the procedure your doctor has recommended. That particular recommendation was based on a number of factors:
Patient Education * the state of your health, * the severity of your condition, * an assessment of alternative treatments or procedures and finally, * the risks associated with doing nothing at all.
And remember, the final decision is up to you. No one can force you to undergo a surgical procedure against your will.
Patient Education
In the case of any form of mastectomy as a treatment for cancer,
the only real alternatives to surgery are radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
But because breast cancer is so potentially dangerous, most patients who undergo mastectomy also receive radiation therapy, chemotherapy or both.
In any case, your doctor has recommended this procedure because he or she believes that surgery is in your best interest and may even be vital to your survival.
Choosing not to have this surgery could put your health and life at grave risk.
You must make sure to talk with your doctor about all of your concerns before making a decision. But as with all cancer treatments, the decision to act should be made as soon as possible.
Now I'd like to introduce you to another important member of the medical team -- the nurse.
Patient Education Company
On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown.
You may receive a sedative by mouth ...
... and an intravenous line may be put in.
You will then be transferred to the operating table.
In the operating room, a nurse will begin preparation by clipping or shaving your underarm.Patient Education
The anesthesiologist will begin to administer anesthesia - most probably general anesthesia by injection and inhalation mask.
The surgeon will then apply an antiseptic solution to the skin ...
... and place a sterile drape around the operative site.
Two incisions will be made beginning at the middle of the chest ...
- one along the top and one along the bottom of the breast - coming together just under the arm.Patient Education
The skin is then lifted up and away, revealing the tissue underneath.
Beginning at the clavicle - or collar bone - the surgeon then begins to carefully cut the breast tissue away from the muscles that lie just beneath.
When the breast has been completely freed, it is lifted away, exposing the top layer of muscle, called the pectoralis major. Your doctor will remove this muscle.
Below the pectoralis major lies another chest muscle called the pectoralis minor. This muscle will also be removed, fully exposing the fatty tissues that lie surround it.
Within this fat deposit lie lymph nodes lymph vessels, blood vessels and nerves.
Using great care not to damage the large thoracic nerve, your doctor will remove the lymph nodes and surrounding fat.Patient Education
Blood vessels will be tied off and your doctor will thoroughly examine the surrounding tissues for any other signs of disease.
When the surgical team is satisfied that they have done all that they can to remove the cancer, they will release the muscles and other tissue.
One or more drainage tubes will be temporarily inserted at the site while the healing process begins.
They will then close the incision.
Finally, a sterile bandage is applied.
Patient Education Company
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