Total Mastectomy or Lumpectomy (partial resection)

Millions of breast cancer cases are detected every year. If a tumor is detected at a sufficiently early stage, it is possible to treat it with surgery.  Here, the patient has to make the most important decision: total mastectomy or partial resection of the breast?

At the Herzliya Medical Cente, our specialist performs the surgery for partial or complete removal of the breast.

When choosing a surgical method of treatment, the patient should take into account these factors:

• The size and location of the tumor
• The extent of its spread to nearby lymph nodes
• The histological character.

Unfortunately, the number of cases in which the patient prefers total mastectomy to lumpectomy without medical indications has dramatically increased recently.

As a result, patients choose this overly radical approach because of an exaggerated fear of the disease.

“Wherever a woman looks, the reminders of the disease threaten her.

Angelina Jolie effect

Another reason for the patients’ preference for total mastectomy and calls it the “Angelina effect”.

Mrs. Jolie’s decision to undergo preventive bilateral breast removal has increased this tendency even more. It seems that many women do not understand the psychological consequences of such radical treatment.

A dramatic increase in the number of radical surgeries in cases, where partial breast resection would be enough is the result of patients’ demand.

It is important to emphasize that doctors in no case encourage such a decision.”

The aesthetic effect of Lumpectomy of the Breast

A prevalent misconception among many women is that a total mastectomy with reconstruction will have a better aesthetic effect than the removal of a tumor through partial resection of the breast.

Doctors explain: “Before, women had scars after partial removal, but to the current date, oncoplastic has substantially developed.

Surgery aimed for breast tumor removal does not leave any aesthetic defection.

After the lumpectomy, the beautiful shape of the breast can remain, with a smooth surface and a small hidden scar.

If necessary, it is possible to perform the correction of the shape of the second breast in order to achieve suitability and symmetry.

It is important that the breast surgeon explains all the possible options for operations for breast tumors and shows what the breast can look like after each.”

Medical indications for total mastectomy

Finally, when a tumor is relatively large, mastectomy may be necessary.

The patient should be consulted by the oncologist-radiologist about the possibility to reduce a tumor through radiation – and if this is feasible, mastectomy can be postponed while waiting for the radiotherapy effect.

If the patient refuses radiotherapy, then the total removal of the breast is indeed justified.

In addition, in the case of an advanced process and an aggressive, invasive form of breast cancer, total mastectomy is preferable.

” The price of breast oncology treatment in Israel is determined case-by-case and depends on the individually selected set of diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures.