Surgery For Breast Cancer

Surgery  Surgery is the process that treats diseases or injuries by physical and instrumental means.  It can reduce the symptoms of a problem or remove a piece of tissue to be further examined.  Breast cancer surgery removes the tumor from the breast in order to prevent the cancer from spreading to the rest of the body.

Advances in Surgery  Scalpels replaced by lasers  Decreased pain from smaller incision  Shorter hospital stay  Less deforming procedures  Better reconstruction options

Breast Cancer Detection The first step of treating breast cancer is to detect it. If found early better success with the treatment. Methods of detection:  Self Examination -By using the pads of their three fingers, the woman can check for any unusual lumps in the breast.  Visual examination- Examine the breast and check for any changes (such as nipple discharge or puckering of the breast).

Breast Cancer Detection  Come in for a Breast Cancer screening test preformed by a nurse practitioner (as shown below).  You should also get checked for breast cancer if you have the following symptoms : - Breast pain or discomfort - Breast pain or discomfort - Bone pain - Bone pain - Skin ulcers - Skin ulcers - Swelling of an arm - Swelling of an arm - Weight loss - Weight loss

If you do find a possible lump you may:  Have a Needle Biopsy in which a needle is used to draw sample fluid and tissues from a lump to be studied.  Receive a mammogram to tell whether or not you have breast cancer. -A mammogram uses a small amount of radiation to produce an image of the breast. By examining these x- ray, doctors can determine if the lump is indeed cancerous. -A mammogram uses a small amount of radiation to produce an image of the breast. By examining these x- ray, doctors can determine if the lump is indeed cancerous. This is the Breast Cancer tumor

Cancerous tumor is found The treatment of breast cancer depends on certain factors. The woman may receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy if the cancer is early and is only in the breast. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, surgery must be preformed. Overall surgery is preferable because it removes the tumor and may bring a longer lifetime. The treatment of breast cancer depends on certain factors. The woman may receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy if the cancer is early and is only in the breast. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, surgery must be preformed. Overall surgery is preferable because it removes the tumor and may bring a longer lifetime. Radiation Therapy- uses rays to stop cancer cells from growing or dividing. It also shrinks the breast cancer tumor. Chemotherapy- uses drugs to control or prevent a cancerous tumor from growing.

Your choices as a patient  You and your doctor will decide on which surgery is the best option based on how aggressive the tumor is. You have choices as to how much of the breast is removed. Your options include: Mastectomy- the removal of the whole breast or both of the breast along with the tumor. Quadrantectomy- the removal of Quadrantectomy- the removal of about a quarter of the breast and about a quarter of the breast and the tumor. the tumor. Lumpectomy- the removal of the Lumpectomy- the removal of the tumor without removing any of tumor without removing any of the breast. the breast.

After the Surgery Depending on the type of surgery the woman has chosen, she will face those certain circumstances that go along with it. Depending on the type of surgery the woman has chosen, she will face those certain circumstances that go along with it.  After mastectomy, the woman has the choice of having breast reconstruction so that she can still have breast.  After quadrantectomy or lumpectomy, the woman must often come in for radiation therapy. This is so that the doctor can ensure that all the cancer cells have been killed off and the patient no longer has breast cancer.

The Final Step  Although surgery is An essential part of Breast Cancer, Pathology also plays an important part. After the surgeon is done, he will take the tumor and some tissue from the breast and send it to the Pathology lab. There these tissues are further examined and studied upon.

My work in MSKCC Working at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has provided me with valuable experience in the field of medicine. As an Intern I have been fortunate enough to assist and work in Dr. King’s Breast Lab in the Rockefeller Research Laboratories. A couple of the things I have been working on in the lab include: Working at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has provided me with valuable experience in the field of medicine. As an Intern I have been fortunate enough to assist and work in Dr. King’s Breast Lab in the Rockefeller Research Laboratories. A couple of the things I have been working on in the lab include: Preparing stains and slidesPreparing stains and slides Using the Microtome to cut tissuesUsing the Microtome to cut tissues Staining slides to determine if they were progesterone relatedStaining slides to determine if they were progesterone related Learning how to deparaffinizeLearning how to deparaffinize

References    /patient /patient /patient  treatment.asp treatment.asp treatment.asp   

Acknowledgements  Dr.Tari King  Dr. Victor Reuter  Maria Coleman  Nita Arroyo  Fitzroy Curate  Esther Monereau  Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center  Dr.Sat Bhattacharya  The Harlem Children Society Thank you Thank you