Common "Mastectomy" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Mastectomy

In women with breast cancer or breast tumor with a high risk of malignancy, surgical removal of the breast along with the tumor is employed. Prophylactic mastectomy is a procedure suggested for women with a high risk of future breast cancer where both the breasts are removed prophylactically in the absence of any neoplasm. Five types of mastectomy are simple or total, radical, modified radical, partial, and subcutaneous. In a simple or total mastectomy, the whole breast is removed. In modified radical breast tissue with axillary lymph nodes are removed. Radical mastectomy is the most extensive as it involves removing the breast, lymph nodes, and muscles of the chest wall. In a partial mastectomy, only the tumor and few tissues surrounding it are removed. Finally, subcutaneous mastectomy removes the breast, sparing the nipple tissue.

Recently Answered Questions Recently Answered Questions

All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.

I am suffering from nausea and vomiting after mastectomy. Please help.

Query: Hi doctor,I am on Protonix, Nexium, Metoprolol succinate, synthroid, Lorazepam, and intravenous Zofran. I am a female of 70 years old with GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease), tachycardia, and hypothyroidism.Last month, I had a left mastectomy with four lymph nodes removed, three positives for ca...  Read Full »


Dr. Abdul Aziz Khan

Answer: Hi. Welcome to icliniq. I am glad you chose icliniq for your medical-related queries. I understand your concern and will try to help you with it. Multiple problems, so let us take them one by one: 1. From your description, it seems you have breast cancer. To know further details about it, please upl...  Read Full »

My breast implants were placed ten years ago after a double mastectomy. Recently, the area near the sternum felt very sensitive. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, I am a 38-year-old woman. Ten years ago, I had a double nipple-sparing mastectomy and submuscular breast implants which looked great. My mother had triple-negative breast cancer and I wanted to avoid the risk of having it myself. I was never tested for BRCA mutations. I never had any ...  Read Full »


Dr. Sanap Sneha Umrao

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and I can understand your concern. As per your description, you do not have a family history of breast cancer or endometrial cancer, so there is no need to do BRCA (breast cancer) test unless there are major symptoms that denote breast cancer. ...  Read Full »

What are the safe breast cancer treatment options available for my mother, who has cardiac problems?

Query: Hi doctor, My mother is 75 years old, and she recently had a modified radical mastectomy for stage 2B invasive carcinoma (tumor size is 3x3, and two nodes of 19 dissected and had metastasis). Her biopsy results say that it is NHS-grade 3, and positive lymph vascular and perineural invasion is seen. ...  Read Full »


Dr. Dinesh Kumar

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Considering her age and the relatively good profile of breast cancer she had, I would suggest that we may avoid chemotherapy. Instead, she may receive radiotherapy and oral hormonal therapy (Letrozole). Thanks and regards.  Read Full »

My biopsy result shows three out of four lumps in my left breast as DCIS stage 0. The doctor has suggested mastectomy as it is located at the nipple, 4 and 6 o'clock positions. Please help.

Query: Hello doctor, Recently my biopsy results came with three out of four lumps on my left breast as DCIS stage 0. The doctor suggested I have a mastectomy as it is located at the nipple, 4 and 6 o'clock positions. He said no therapy is needed thereafter and will not affect my lymph node. Is this the on...  Read Full »


Dr. Arvind Guru

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. First of all, I would like to request you upload your doctor's notes, your biopsy report, and your mammogram report for comprehensive and complete advice. From what you have mentioned, it seems your doctor is probably right in suggesting mastectomy, as it can be one...  Read Full »

What is the first treatment choice for breast cancer?

Query: Hi doctor, My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago and had a right mastectomy. She however did not have chemo or radiation. She has a little extra fat on the lateral area of the breast that after surgery it looked like a small third breast. Right over the old incision, a larg...  Read Full »


Dr. Saumya Mittal

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Here are my suggestions; assuming that you want to undergo full treatment, the best method would be to start chemo and radiotherapy. The cycles of chemotherapy will depend on the medicine chosen by your oncologist. This will reduce the tumor size. Then go ahead with the ...  Read Full »

Is white liver in breast cancer patient a concerning issue?

Query: Hello doctor, I am 33 years old. I am diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and did mastectomy on the left breast, had chemotherapy and radiation. I am now taking Tamoxifen pill. My cancer marker is 11 and all the scans up to now were good all the time. Two weeks ago, I did sonography of abdomen and...  Read Full »


Dr. Ajeet Kumar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com.Your concerns are genuine and reasonable. Well, since I am a gastroenterologist, I can give you some hint to what is that white liver means in your case. However, I may be unable to figure out the cause for that unusual feeling of heart. The white liver means increased ...  Read Full »

Can my breasts regrow after undergoing five cycles of chemotherapy?

Query: Hello doctor, I am undergoing the fifth cycle of chemotherapy for my left breast. For the past five months, I am undergoing this treatment. Prior to chemotherapy, I was taking ayurvedic medicine for the same problem. I took the medicine for about eight months, but it did not have any benefit. At tha...  Read Full »


Dr. Nadiminty Raghuvamsi

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. From your description, I fear that you have metastatic breast cancer. Usually, the surgery is done after four cycles of chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. As you have undergone five cycles, you must be on palliative chemotherapy to control the disease. Usual...  Read Full »

After a mastectomy, I have tightness in my armpits again. Why?

Query: Hi doctor, Before seven months, I had a mastectomy. During which, I had my lymph nodes taken out of my armpit. I had exercises to do, which helped ease the tightness in my arm. Only in the last two weeks or so, I have noticed a tightness in my hand on the same side of the operation. It feels a bit t...  Read Full »


Dr. Payas Joshi

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is most probably lymphedema. It occurs as your lymph nodes are taken out, which helps in the drainage of lymph.Are you doing your exercises regularly? This can be prevented by proper exercises that your doctor must have told you. Keep your arm at a height above head...  Read Full »

I am positive for BRCA 1. Am I prone to cancer?

Query: Hi doctor, I am 30 years old. I have BRCA1 genetic mutation that is still undergoing more research as they are not sure of the exact risk yet. My mom had breast cancer at the age of 56 and her cousin had the same at the age of 46. They were both positive to hormonal therapy. Another cousin had ova...  Read Full »


Dr. Rajesh Gulati

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Since you have BRCA1 (breast cancer type 1) positive with a strong family history of breast cancer, there is always a risk of developing cancer. You need to have a regular followup. Ultrasound sometime may miss early changes. Since you have a high tendency of developing...  Read Full »

Is it necessary to remove the entire breast in case of cancer?

Query: Hi doctor, My mother-in-law got operated for breast lump at before 15 days. We sent that lump to the clinic for further test and found that the lump has cancer cells. Before 13 years, she was operated for the same reason in the same breast, but that time it was a normal lump. Now, we did PET CT scan...  Read Full »


Dr. Bharat Patodiya

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I could not find hormone status and HER2 report. Is it done and awaited? The decision of chemotherapy is greatly influenced by those reports. Moreover, the margin seems to be positive and this may need a revision surgery. The pathologist and surgeon needs to discuss. R...  Read Full »

ask-doctor-img Ask a Doctor Online

* Your first query consult is free!

Search for a Health Issue



Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.