Surgery to remove a breast lump is known as a nodulectomy and is generally a relatively simple and quick procedure, performed through a small incision in the breast next to the lump.
Normally, the surgery lasts about 1 hour, but the duration can vary depending on the complexity of each case, as well as the number of nodules to be removed. Breast surgery to remove a lump can be done under local anesthesia, but when the lesion is very large or when more than one lump is to be removed, the surgery is done under general anesthesia.
- Often times.
- This type of surgery is done in place of a mastectomy.
- As it retains more breast tissue.
- While maintaining the overall appearance of the breast.
- However.
- This can only be done in small nodules.
- As larger ones are more likely to leave behind cancer cells that can end up causing cancer.
- To avoid this.
- In the case of a large lump.
- Your doctor may also recommend that you undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery.
Better understand when and how a mastectomy is performed
Before surgery it is very important to make an appointment with the surgeon and anesthetist to know what precautions should be taken before the procedure, so although preoperative care varies by person and their history, it is common for them. to include:
When consulting with your surgeon, it’s also very important to mention some interesting problems, such as drug allergies or frequently used drugs.
In addition to these precautions, a few days before surgery, your doctor should also order an X-ray or mammogram to assess the position and size of the nodule to facilitate surgery.
Recovery after surgery may vary depending on the complexity of the surgery, but it is common for a woman to stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days to recover before returning home, partly due to the effect of anesthesia. Your doctor may maintain a drainage by draining fluid from your breast, which helps prevent the development of a seroma. This drainage is removed before discharge.
In the first few days, it is also common to feel some pain at the site of surgery, so your doctor prescribes pain relievers that will be manufactured directly into the vein in the hospital or in the form of home tablets. It is advisable to use at all times a bra that provides adequate support and support.
To ensure a faster recovery, it is also important to rest, avoid overexertion, and not raise your arms above your shoulders for 7 days. You should also watch for possible signs of infection, such as redness, severe pain, swelling, or release of pus. the incision site If this happens, you should tell the doctor or go to the hospital.
Surgery to remove the breast lump is quite safe; however, like any other surgery, it can cause complications such as pain, bleeding, infection, scarring, or changes in breast tenderness such as numbness.