Breast Cancer:Surgery and Radiation

Health Journey

Breast Cancer

  1. Start Here
  2. Risks and Symptoms
  3. Breast Cancer Tests
  4. Understanding Your Diagnosis
  5. Choosing Treatment
  6. What You May Be Feeling
  7. Surgery and Radiation
  8. Drugs and Side Effects
  9. Your Body Image
  10. Metastatic Breast Cancer
  11. Life After Breast Cancer

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What You Need to Know

Video: Perspectives on Surgery and Radiation
  • Breast Cancer Almost Pain-Free Surgery Doctor-Patient Video
    Surgery Wasn't That Bad
    Betsy liked the closure and the morphine
    ( 2:58 )
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  • Breast Cancer Surgery Implants Doctor-Patient Video
    Implants Right Away
    I wanted to put reconstruction behind me
    ( 1:26 )
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  • Breast Cancer Surgery Chemotherapy Doctor-Patient Video
    Surgery Was a Relief
    Karen did chemo before surgery
    ( 1:16 )
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  • Breast Cancer Surgery Treatment Plan Doctor-Patient Video
    Plan Ahead
    Surgery is no place for treatment decisions
    ( :37 )
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What You Need to Know if You Choose Breast Reconstruction

Ask lots of questions and look at lots of pictures
If you want to have reconstructive breast surgery after your mastectomy (and the procedure is appropriate given your health profile), you'll either get an implant or so-called autologous reconstruction, using your own tissue. The main things to consider when choosing between the two are your comfort, your appearance, and how quickly you want this over with...  Read More
ONLINE RESOURCES

Advice on Breast Cancer Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy, Reconstruction

  • Site: Susan G. Komen for the Cure
  • Who it's for: Women seeking information on treatments for breast cancer
  • Why we like it: This is a Flash slideshow (click on Anatomy of Breast Cancer) that describes a variety of treatments including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, Herceptin, and emerging therapies like antiangiogenic drugs.
See the Guide

Why Lymph Nodes Are a Magnet for Breast Cancer

You may need to have your lymph nodes biopsied or removed
Lymph nodes are small glands that act as a filtering system for the body; the nodes in your armpit can become a magnet for breast cancer on the move. "What I tell patients is that there are two parts to breast cancer surgery: the first part is the operation on the breast itself, whether the lumpectomy or mastectomy, and the second part has to do with the lymph nodes..."  Read More

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