Breast Cancer Recovery

When is "breast reconstruction" necessary?

Breast reconstruction is when a new breast is created for a woman who has already undergone a mastectomy. The most common types of breast reconstruction either consist of an implant, where a bag of saline is put in underneath the muscle of the chest wall to create a new breast or where abdominal muscles are rotated up to create new breast tissue or muscles from the back or rotated around to create new breast tissue. Breast reconstructions are done by plastic surgeons. The timing of breast reconstruction needs to be taken into account as well, because if a woman is going to need radiation for her breast cancer then the breast reconstruction needs to be planned around that, because in general, you do not want to radiate a reconstructed breast. That is why it is important to have a multi-disciplinary team to also include a plastic surgeon on the treatment planning.

What are my options for breast reconstruction?

In regards to breast cancer recovery, breast reconstruction is when a new breast is created for a woman who has already undergone a mastectomy. The most common types of breast reconstruction either consist of an implant where a bag of saline is put in underneath the muscle of the chest wall to create a new breast, or whereby abdominal muscles are rotated up to create new breast tissue. Alternatively, muscles from the back are rotated around to create new breast tissue. These breast reconstructions are done by plastic surgeons.

What are my options if I don't want to reconstruct my breast?

If a woman is not going to undergo a surgical reconstruction of her breast, she can have a breast prosthesis made, which she can put in her bra and can give her the illusion of having a breast through her clothes.

What is a "breast cyst" and a "breast cyst aspiration"?

A breast cyst is a fluid collection that occurs inside the breast tissue and it can often be felt as a lump or as a mass which initially can be concerned with a breast cancer, but on further evaluation with mammogram and ultrasound the breast cyst is found to be a fluid-built collection. Often times what's used to treat this is a breast cyst aspiration which is where a small needle is inserted into the cyst and the fluid is withdrawn. If the fluid from the cyst is clear, there is nothing further to do except observe the breast and make sure that the cyst does not return. If the fluid from the cyst comes back bloody, then it needs to be evaluated for any atypical cells or cancerous cells underneath the microscope and the breast has to be followed more closely to be sure that it's not breast cancer or that breast cancer does not develop there. But as a rule, simple breast cysts are benign, they are not cancerous.