Breast cancer treatment with partial breast removal surgery

The essence of organ-preserving, so-called partial breast surgery is to remove only the tumor with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue. At the preparation stage, patients undergo comprehensive examination, laboratory tests, tumor biopsy, CT, MRI, and ultrasound to determine the surgery scope. Then, according to the results, the most gentle of the suitable techniques is selected. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, plunging a woman into a deep sleep. Doctors monitor the patient's heart rate, oxygen intake, and pressure during surgical procedures. A breast surgeon makes an incision under the breast with a scalpel in the direction of the inside of the sternum to the armpit. The nipple and areola are not affected. Then the doctor removes the tissue affected by cancer. Usually, a quarter of the breast volume is excised, but half can be removed if necessary. The operation lasts 2-3 hours. After that, the wound is sutured, and the doctor applies stitches. If necessary, drainage is installed for a few days – a plastic or rubber tube attached to a soft container to remove the fluid formed during wound healing. Finally, a sample of the removed tissue is sent for histological examination. The general anesthesia and the complexity of the operation require medical monitoring for several days.