A benign breast lump is caused by the excessive growth of normal cells and tissues. The growth is not cancerous; it consists of tissue that helps to support the breast. There are common causes, which include changes in tissue, an infection, injury and medicines. Breast tissue is sensitive to hormone levels that change during the menstrual cycle. The most common types of benign breast lumps are known as fibroadenomas.
The main symptom is the appearance of a hard cyst in the breast, which is painless when touched and which, not being attached to the skin, moves around. Other symptoms include breast discomfort and tenderness, irregular nodules or small lumps and dense breast tissue.
Currently, the cause is not known, although it is believed that it may be due to a hormonal imbalance. It primarily affects women during puberty, the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. However, it also occurs, at a lower frequency, in postmenopausal women.
There are some everyday measures that may help prevent the development of benign breast lumps. These are:
A diagnosis is made using ultrasound and further refined with a needle biopsy. Given that benign breast lumps are related to hormonal changes in women, they do not always have to be removed and usually disappear by themselves within a couple of years. Surgery is performed when the lump is growing rapidly, is causing discomfort or for aesthetic reasons. However, medical tests are necessary if a tumour is suspected.
Breast augmentation involves an operation where implants are inserted into your breasts to increase their size, change their size or to make them more symmetrical.
The procedure is often known as breast augmentation or as a “boob job”. Breast augmentation or mammoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at increasing the size and volume of the breasts. Normally, surgery is recommended with implants in both breasts to make them more symmetrical. Implants can come in various shapes, generally round, oval or anatomical. Currently, there are prostheses with a rough-textured surface to provide a more natural look. The incision scar for breast surgery is practically invisible.
There are two types of implants to choose from, saline or silicone.
Silicone implants are more commonly used in the UK. They’re less likely to wrinkle and feel more natural.
Saline implants are more likely to fold, rupture or go down over time. The saline will safely be absorbed into your body in the case where this may occur.
Ensure you discuss the pros and cons of each type with your surgeon, the size and shape, as well as where they’ll be placed. Breast implants can be placed either behind the breast muscle or just behind the breast).
Breast implants will need to be replaced at some point. Often women will need further surgery after roughly 10 years because of problems with their implants or because their breasts have changed around the implants.
Your surgeon will make a single cut incision in one of three places:
When the implant is in place, the surgeon closes the incision, typically through stitches and it will be bandaged with surgical tape and skin adhesive.
You should be able to move around soon after having breast enlargement surgery. It can take a few weeks to fully recover from surgery. You will want to take up to two weeks off from work. You shouldn’t drive for at least one week.
You may be recommended to wear a sports bra or a compression bandage for extra support and to help with the positioning of the breast implants. You may be prescribed medication to help ease the pain.
For up to three months after breast surgery, you must avoid strenuous exercise or lifting for at least a month
After six weeks you can return to most of your normal activities. Your scars should also start to fade.
After a few months, your breasts should start to feel and look more natural and you may be able to stop wearing the sports bra or compression bandage.
It’s important to keep in mind that breast will continue to age after undergoing the surgery and that weight loss or weight gain may alter the way your breasts look too. However, the procedure often helps improve your self-esteem greatly as well as body image.
If you have thought about getting breast implants and undergoing surgery, get in contact with a surgeon who specialises in this procedure.
Breast reconstruction is performed after a mastectomy or a lumpectomy; in some cases, the reconstruction is delayed a few months or years after the breast cancer surgery.
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and takes about 8 hours.
Breast reconstruction is primarily done for aesthetic reasons, and leads to marked improvement in the patient’s self-image. The decision to have breast reconstruction surgery is as valid as the decision to not have it — in all cases, the decision is a personal one.
There are two ways of performing breast reconstruction: with an implant or with the patient’s own tissue (autologous or “flap” reconstruction).
It is important that you follow the surgeon’s instructions, e.g. to stop taking medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin. You will have to stop smoking; you will have to dress as comfortably as possible; and you will have to arrange in advance how to return home after surgery and how to manage during the first few days of recovery.
You will feel tired for a few days after the intervention, and so you should arrange for someone to help you during this time. After the first week, you will be able to take care of yourself.
Breast cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the cells of the breasts, mainly in women but men can also be affected. It is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with approximately one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, and around one in 870 men develop it. Although it is the most common form of cancer, the recovery rate is high if the cancer is discovered early.
The most notable symptom of breast cancer is the formation of a lump anywhere in the breast area from below the armpits to the centre of the chest. It may appear as a physical lump, or the thickening of breast tissue.
Other symptoms include changes in the size or shape of the breasts, dimpling of the skin of the armpits, a rash around the nipples, discharge from the nipples, or a sunken area in either of the breasts.
The causes of breast cancer are not known, however it is understood that there are certain factors that can cause an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer.
People more at risk of breast cancer include:
Cancer can develop in different parts of the breast and in different ways.
The most common types of breast cancer are:
It is important to detect breast cancer early, as early detection means that it can be treated more effectively before it is able to spread.
Treatment usually consists of three components: surgery to remove part or all of the breast tissue where the cancer is located, known as either a mastectomy to remove the complete breast, or a lumpectomy to remove the lump. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells follows, along with the possibility of hormone or biological treatments.
To make an appointment with a breast cancer specialist, click here.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands caused, usually, by an infection. Common symptoms include swelling, pain, redness and sometimes a mild fever.
The usual symptoms of mastitis are:
One of the main causes of mastitis is the lack of hygiene. However, this condition often occurs when a woman is breastfeeding. During breastfeeding, the skin of the nipples can crack and allow the bacteria that live on the skin to penetrate the fatty tissue of the breast. The proliferation of bacteria produces a blockage that makes it difficult for milk to exit through the mammary ducts.
Breastfeeding helps prevent mastitis. When the baby sucks, the ducts are emptied and cleaned of possible infections or obstructions that may occur.
To eliminate the infection, you will usually be prescribed antibiotics and analgesics to relieve pain. Other recommendations are the application of local heat through damp cloths for 15-20 minutes four times a day, good hygiene, avoiding prolonged periods without breastfeeding or using a milk pump. It is also essential to get enough rest and drink plenty of fluids. If mastitis is not treated properly and the infection gets worse, an abscess may occur. The abscesses must be drained, either through outpatient treatment or surgery.
A breast ultrasound is an imaging technique used to screen for tumours and abnormalities in the breast tissue, such as cysts. An ultrasound uses sound waves to form images of the inside of the body. The sound waves bounce or echo off surfaces in the body which are recorded and transformed into videos or photographs.
Prior to a breast ultrasound a doctor will have conducted a physical exam of the breast. Then you will have to undress from the waist up and lie down on the examination table. A clear gel is applied to the breast being examined. This gel is harmless and helps the ultrasound produce clearer images. A paddle-like probe instrument is applied to the breast and moved across it. A test will take between 10-20 minutes. Once the relevant images have been recorded, the gel is wiped off and the procedure is complete.
A breast ultrasound is most commonly performed if there is a suspicious lump found in the breast. This lump could be a sign of breast cancer and an ultrasound will help determine whether it is a tumour or a fluid-filled cyst. Although a breast ultrasound can detect a tumour, it is not able to determine if it is cancerous or not. A biopsy will be performed to determine this, which can also be guided by ultrasound.
No preparation is required for a breast ultrasound, however, it is advised not to apply perfumes or lotions to the breast skin. It might also be helpful to wear a two-piece outfit to the test to aid undressing.
A breast ultrasound is painless, however, the gel applied can feel a little bit cold.
The ultrasound images are black and white, and a lump or abnormality will usually show up as dark.
The following are potential findings from a breast ultrasound:
• Fibrocystic breasts – painful and lumpy breasts caused by hormonal changes.
• Adenofibroma – a benign, non-cancerous breast tumour.
• Intraductal papilloma – benign tumour of the milk duct.
• Malignant tumour – a cancerous breast lump.
A cancerous tumour will be tested further, usually by an MRI scan and then a biopsy. These further tests will confirm whether or not the lump is cancerous.
Miss Christina Choy is an experienced oncoplastic breast surgeon based in London, with a specialist expertise in one stop rapid assessment for various breast symptoms and lumps, family history risk assessment and genetic testing, breast screening and counselling, state of the arts management for both benign breast disease and breast cancer. She works at HCA hospitals in London with a group of dedicated multidisciplinary team members to provide holistic personal care with updated and cutting-edge management approaches for breast management. She is a trustee for Breast Cancer Hope Charity which promotes breast cancer research for improvement of breast cancer awareness and disease treatment.
Miss Christina Choy qualified from the Medical School of the University of Sydney in 1986 and undertook her postgraduate training in surgery and has worked in various major centres in Australia, Hong Kong and the UK, including The Royal Marsden Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital. She worked as consultant breast surgeon in the NHS previously and was Lead for the Breast Service at the Homerton University Hospital. She has worked in the private sector since 2003. From January 2017 she has worked exclusively for HCA private hospitals including the London Breast Institute at the Princess Grace Hospital, the Harley Street Clinic, the Portland Hospital for women and the new HCA specialist unit at the Chiswick Outpatient and Diagnostic Centre.
Miss Choy is actively involved in research and has worked in conjunction with the pathology department at St Bartholomew's Hospital on a study of the gene arrays and demographic data of young women, particularly Afro-Caribbean women and other ethnic groups, presenting with breast cancer. Other projects that she is involved in include research into barriers to women accessing early diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer in various ethnic groups (in conjunction with King's College Hospital, recently presented in Parliament for Black Afro-Caribbean and Ethnic Minority Group, BAEM), the development of a 23 hours model for early discharge after breast cancer surgery and an audit to determine if sentinel node of highest isotope count can be the predictor of nodal status in breast cancer.
A benign breast lump is caused by the excessive growth of normal cells and tissues. The growth is not cancerous; it consists of tissue that helps to support the breast. There are common causes, which include changes in tissue, an infection, injury and medicines. Breast tissue is sensitive to hormone levels that change during the menstrual cycle. The most common types of benign breast lumps are known as fibroadenomas.
The main symptom is the appearance of a hard cyst in the breast, which is painless when touched and which, not being attached to the skin, moves around. Other symptoms include breast discomfort and tenderness, irregular nodules or small lumps and dense breast tissue.
Currently, the cause is not known, although it is believed that it may be due to a hormonal imbalance. It primarily affects women during puberty, the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. However, it also occurs, at a lower frequency, in postmenopausal women.
There are some everyday measures that may help prevent the development of benign breast lumps. These are:
A diagnosis is made using ultrasound and further refined with a needle biopsy. Given that benign breast lumps are related to hormonal changes in women, they do not always have to be removed and usually disappear by themselves within a couple of years. Surgery is performed when the lump is growing rapidly, is causing discomfort or for aesthetic reasons. However, medical tests are necessary if a tumour is suspected.
Breast augmentation involves an operation where implants are inserted into your breasts to increase their size, change their size or to make them more symmetrical.
The procedure is often known as breast augmentation or as a “boob job”. Breast augmentation or mammoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at increasing the size and volume of the breasts. Normally, surgery is recommended with implants in both breasts to make them more symmetrical. Implants can come in various shapes, generally round, oval or anatomical. Currently, there are prostheses with a rough-textured surface to provide a more natural look. The incision scar for breast surgery is practically invisible.
There are two types of implants to choose from, saline or silicone.
Silicone implants are more commonly used in the UK. They’re less likely to wrinkle and feel more natural.
Saline implants are more likely to fold, rupture or go down over time. The saline will safely be absorbed into your body in the case where this may occur.
Ensure you discuss the pros and cons of each type with your surgeon, the size and shape, as well as where they’ll be placed. Breast implants can be placed either behind the breast muscle or just behind the breast).
Breast implants will need to be replaced at some point. Often women will need further surgery after roughly 10 years because of problems with their implants or because their breasts have changed around the implants.
Your surgeon will make a single cut incision in one of three places:
When the implant is in place, the surgeon closes the incision, typically through stitches and it will be bandaged with surgical tape and skin adhesive.
You should be able to move around soon after having breast enlargement surgery. It can take a few weeks to fully recover from surgery. You will want to take up to two weeks off from work. You shouldn’t drive for at least one week.
You may be recommended to wear a sports bra or a compression bandage for extra support and to help with the positioning of the breast implants. You may be prescribed medication to help ease the pain.
For up to three months after breast surgery, you must avoid strenuous exercise or lifting for at least a month
After six weeks you can return to most of your normal activities. Your scars should also start to fade.
After a few months, your breasts should start to feel and look more natural and you may be able to stop wearing the sports bra or compression bandage.
It’s important to keep in mind that breast will continue to age after undergoing the surgery and that weight loss or weight gain may alter the way your breasts look too. However, the procedure often helps improve your self-esteem greatly as well as body image.
If you have thought about getting breast implants and undergoing surgery, get in contact with a surgeon who specialises in this procedure.
Breast cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the cells of the breasts, mainly in women but men can also be affected. It is the most common type of cancer in the UK, with approximately one in eight women diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime, and around one in 870 men develop it. Although it is the most common form of cancer, the recovery rate is high if the cancer is discovered early.
The most notable symptom of breast cancer is the formation of a lump anywhere in the breast area from below the armpits to the centre of the chest. It may appear as a physical lump, or the thickening of breast tissue.
Other symptoms include changes in the size or shape of the breasts, dimpling of the skin of the armpits, a rash around the nipples, discharge from the nipples, or a sunken area in either of the breasts.
The causes of breast cancer are not known, however it is understood that there are certain factors that can cause an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer.
People more at risk of breast cancer include:
Cancer can develop in different parts of the breast and in different ways.
The most common types of breast cancer are:
It is important to detect breast cancer early, as early detection means that it can be treated more effectively before it is able to spread.
Treatment usually consists of three components: surgery to remove part or all of the breast tissue where the cancer is located, known as either a mastectomy to remove the complete breast, or a lumpectomy to remove the lump. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells follows, along with the possibility of hormone or biological treatments.
To make an appointment with a breast cancer specialist, click here.
Breast cancer has various surgical treatment options and all are best done when the cancer is in its early stage. The surgery depends on the size, location and extent of the tumour(s).
Breast fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or an autologous fat transfer, is a fairly new breast reconstruction technique. In simple terms, a breast transfer involves removing fat from one part of the body, often the thighs, buttocks or abdomen, and injecting this fat into the breast area to reconstruct and recreate the breasts following breast cancer surgery. Whilst this is mostly an oncoplastic technique, it can be used as a means of ‘natural’ breast enhancement, without the need for implants.
A breast fat transfer provides a means of both creating a more natural feeling and look breast enhancement. It is also a technique that can be used when reconstructing breasts that have undergone breast cancer surgery (e.g. a lumpectomy). If the breasts just need to have small differences fixed, a similar technique called lipofilling can be used. An advantage of this technique is that it can be safer than other means of breast augmentation or reconstruction because it is not major surgery, such as breast flap surgery, and it does not involve the risks of having a foreign object inserted (implants).
Fat is removed from another part of the body (buttocks, thighs or abdomen) using a thin tube which sucks out small amounts of fat. This process is similar to liposuction. Next, the fat must be prepared for insertion into the breast area. Specialist equipment spins the fat, separating the fat from the blood. Once the fat is prepared, it can be inserted into the breast area. Using a needle and syringe, fat is carefully transferred to the breasts. Stitches are usually not needed as the injections are inserted through very small holes.
A breast fat transfer can take up to two hours and sometimes it is done as a day case procedure, however, sometimes it may be necessary to stay in hospital overnight. It can be performed under either local or general anaesthetic, and whichever is used, there should not be any pain throughout the procedure. Sometimes, more than one session is required to achieve the desired results.
Depending on the anaesthesia used, you may be required to fast before your procedure. Your health and suitability for breast fat transfer will also be determined before being scheduled for this procedure.
After surgery, you should arrange for someone to take you home as you will not be able to drive initially. You can expect the breast area to be swollen and bruised for the first two weeks. Results are best observed a few months following breast fat transfer. Over time, it is normal for some of the transferred fat to be reabsorbed by the body, so some breast volume may be lost eventually. During your recovery period, it is advised that you do not sleep on your front and that you avoid strenuous activity.
Breast reconstruction is performed after a mastectomy or a lumpectomy; in some cases, the reconstruction is delayed a few months or years after the breast cancer surgery.
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and takes about 8 hours.
Breast reconstruction is primarily done for aesthetic reasons, and leads to marked improvement in the patient’s self-image. The decision to have breast reconstruction surgery is as valid as the decision to not have it — in all cases, the decision is a personal one.
There are two ways of performing breast reconstruction: with an implant or with the patient’s own tissue (autologous or “flap” reconstruction).
It is important that you follow the surgeon’s instructions, e.g. to stop taking medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin. You will have to stop smoking; you will have to dress as comfortably as possible; and you will have to arrange in advance how to return home after surgery and how to manage during the first few days of recovery.
You will feel tired for a few days after the intervention, and so you should arrange for someone to help you during this time. After the first week, you will be able to take care of yourself.
Breast reduction is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the breasts. The operation is performed under general anaesthesia by a specialist in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.
Breast reduction may be done for aesthetic reasons, in women who feel that the size of their breasts is not proportional or in harmony with the rest of their body. However, in many women, the procedure also alleviates neck and back pain caused by the excess weight.
The plastic surgeon will recommend the most suitable breast reduction technique for you. However the operation usually involves making incisions around the areola to remove excess fat, skin and breast tissue and to shape the whole breast to achieve the desired position and size. This results in smaller, firmer breasts that are less prone to sagging. For an optimal outcome, a mastopexy (breast lift) is always performed as part of breast reduction surgery.
Before surgery, a medical examination is necessary to determine whether you can undergo surgery under general anaesthesia. If you are a smoker, you will have to stop smoking from at least 4 weeks before surgery. You may also have to stop taking certain medications.
After the operation, you may have to stay in hospital overnight, possibly longer. Recovery at home can take 1 to 2 weeks, after which you can gradually resume your usual routine. Breast pain during recovery is normal, so painkillers are usually administered. Oedema and mild bleeding may also occur. During recovery, you will have to avoid lifting, driving, exercise and sunbathing. Furthermore, you will have to sleep with your head and back elevated.
There are many types of breast surgery, including reconstructive surgery, augmentation (breast implants), and reduction. Undergoing surgery is a major decision which should be reflected upon and discussed in detail with a specialist before surgery is decided upon. People may seek cosmetic breast surgery for many reasons, and nowadays there are many options to choose from, meaning the procedure can be truly tailored to the patient.
A breast ultrasound is an imaging technique used to screen for tumours and abnormalities in the breast tissue, such as cysts. An ultrasound uses sound waves to form images of the inside of the body. The sound waves bounce or echo off surfaces in the body which are recorded and transformed into videos or photographs.
Prior to a breast ultrasound a doctor will have conducted a physical exam of the breast. Then you will have to undress from the waist up and lie down on the examination table. A clear gel is applied to the breast being examined. This gel is harmless and helps the ultrasound produce clearer images. A paddle-like probe instrument is applied to the breast and moved across it. A test will take between 10-20 minutes. Once the relevant images have been recorded, the gel is wiped off and the procedure is complete.
A breast ultrasound is most commonly performed if there is a suspicious lump found in the breast. This lump could be a sign of breast cancer and an ultrasound will help determine whether it is a tumour or a fluid-filled cyst. Although a breast ultrasound can detect a tumour, it is not able to determine if it is cancerous or not. A biopsy will be performed to determine this, which can also be guided by ultrasound.
No preparation is required for a breast ultrasound, however, it is advised not to apply perfumes or lotions to the breast skin. It might also be helpful to wear a two-piece outfit to the test to aid undressing.
A breast ultrasound is painless, however, the gel applied can feel a little bit cold.
The ultrasound images are black and white, and a lump or abnormality will usually show up as dark.
The following are potential findings from a breast ultrasound:
• Fibrocystic breasts – painful and lumpy breasts caused by hormonal changes.
• Adenofibroma – a benign, non-cancerous breast tumour.
• Intraductal papilloma – benign tumour of the milk duct.
• Malignant tumour – a cancerous breast lump.
A cancerous tumour will be tested further, usually by an MRI scan and then a biopsy. These further tests will confirm whether or not the lump is cancerous.
Gastric sleeve (or sleeve gastrectomy) is a restrictive weight loss surgical procedure, where the capacity of the stomach is dramatically reduced by about 75% to aid in long-term weight loss. The procedure is called gastric sleeve as the surgeon removes part of the stomach and joins the remainder together, which resembles a ‘sleeve’ and is the size of a banana. A reduction in stomach size makes it difficult for a patient to overeat. The surgeon also removes the part of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone ghrelin, which is known to boost appetite.
A gastric sleeve is an option for patients who are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 50 and who have not managed to lose the necessary weight through other methods such as a healthy diet and exercise.
Sleeve gastrectomy intervention is done by laparoscopy that usually lasts between 60 to 90 minutes. The surgeon will make a few small cuts, between 2 and 5 incisions, in the abdomen through which the laparoscope (an instrument with a tiny camera that sends pictures to a monitor) will be introduced. This enables the surgeon to see the inside of the abdomen during the operation. Then the removal of most of the stomach will be carried out, leaving a vertical tube shape, which is an irreversible procedure.
Before having a gastric sleeve operation the patient should undergo various tests, such as a complete physical examination, blood tests and an ultrasound of the gallbladder to confirm that they are healthy enough to have weight loss surgery. There are essential steps that a patient must take to prepare for bariatric surgery, including a lot of lifestyle changes.
It is recommended to quit smoking as the use of tobacco products have been proven to increase the risk of complications during and after surgery. Changes to diet, such as eating three regular meals a day with two small snacks per day, is a good way to prepare the body for the routine following surgery. Most doctors require a special pre-operation diet.
Patients are advised to drink more water and limit other beverages. They should incorporate physical activity into their everyday lives and start with a small exercise routine. A nutritionist and personal trainer would be able to advise the patients on how best implement these positive changes.
Normally, the patient can go home two days after the gastric sleeve and will have to take analgesics. There are four phases for a patient to follow post-operation to help transition to a solid food diet. They are:
Lumpectomy is a surgical procedure carried out with general anaesthetic that removes cancer and abnormal tissue from the breasts. It is also known as breast-conserving surgery because compared to a mastectomy only a section of the breast is removed.
The aim of a lumpectomy is to remove the cancerous tissue whilst conserving the appearance of the breast. Recent studies have indicated that lumpectomy is as effective at preventing cancer returning as a double mastectomy.
A specialist might recommend a lumpectomy if the cancer found through biopsy is in its early stages and small, as well as being in a suitbale position and only in one area of the breast. Often lumpectomy will be complemented by radiotherapy as well which aims to destroy any remaining cancer cells still in the breast following surgery.
A lumpectomy is performed using general anaesthesia, meaning you are unaware during the surgery. Firstly the area for excision is located, using a mammogram and biopsy. Once located, the radiologist will place a thin wire or radioactive marker into the section of cancerous breast tissue. This wire placement guides the surgeon in surgery.
During lumpectomy, the lymph nodes are also often removed. This allows the specialist to determine if the cancer has spread beyond the breast tissue. This will either be done through an axillary node dissection or a sentinel lymph node biopsy. Once tested, if no further cancer is found then no more lymph nodes need to be removed. If there is more cancer, then either further surgery or radiation treatment will be needed.
In surgery, the surgeon makes an incision where the wire is and removes the cancer and surrounding tissue. The incision is closed using stitches, taking care to preserve the appearance of the breast.
Before surgery, you will have met with your surgeon and discussed how the surgery is performed, as well as expectations for healing and scarring. When you meet your surgeon it is important to have a list of questions you may have so that you understand the procedure and any risks it may carry.
A lumpectomy can often be carried out as a day-case procedure so a hospital stay is not always required. Prior to surgery certain medications will have to be stopped, and 8-12 hours before surgery you will have to stop drinking and eating.
Following surgery, you will be released from hospital once you are stable and the anaesthesia has mostly worn off. It is important to have someone take you home from the hospital. You can expect the following:
Getting the results from the lymph nodes will take a week or so and will be discussed in the follow-up appointment with your doctor. Potential further treatment will be discussed in this appointment.
The wound generally takes 2-3 weeks to heal, and it will be bruised and swollen initially. You will be told how to look after the wound at home. It is important to avoid heavy lifting, driving and exercise until your wound has healed.
Your breast cancer treatment will depend on where the cancer is located, the size of the cancer, the size of your breasts and your own wishes. Sometimes it is necessary to have a mastectomy (surgery that removes the whole breast). Discussing your options with a specialist will be essential in making your treatment decision.
A mastectomy is a surgical procedure performed using general anaesthetic that removes an entire breast. This is used to treat breast cancer and often involves removing most of the breast tissue, skin and the nipple. Depending on where the cancer is present, a single or double mastectomy will be performed. Mastectomy is often followed by breast reconstruction surgery.
A mastectomy will be recommended if the breast cancer is in a large area of the breast, has spread throughout the breast tissue and if the breast has pre-cancerous cells in it. Also, some women will have a mastectomy if they have a very high risk of developing breast cancer, even if no cancer is currently present.
The surgeon starts by making an incision across the breast so that the tissue can be removed (including the nipple and some skin) as well as tissues that cover the chest muscles. Once the tissue is removed, a drainage tube is placed to prevent fluid build-up within the breast space in the first few days following surgery. The incision will be closed with stitches, eventually leaving a scar that stretches across the chest and into the armpit.
There are different types of mastectomy:
Prior to surgery you will have met with the surgeon to ask any questions and be made aware of how the operation is carried out and potential risks to be aware of. You will also be given advice on bras and inserts, if required. You may be receiving complementary chemotherapy as well to reduce the size of the tumours, which you will discuss with your specialist.
Following a mastectomy, you will have a dressing over the wound, with one or two drainage tubes. It is expected to feel sore for a number of days which painkillers will be administered to manage. Wounds take roughly 2-3 weeks to heal, but a few months for the chest and arm area recovers fully. You will be bruised, stiff and swollen initially.
Most are able to go home either the same day or the day following the operation. If a breast reconstruction was performed the same day, then staying in the hospital for up to a week will be necessary.
Arm exercises will be recommended to encourage movement back to arms and shoulders. These can be done as soon as they feel comfortable, usually 3 weeks after surgery. It is essential for recovery to avoid strenuous exercise and driving for up to 3-4 weeks following surgery.
Patients will generally take between 4-8 weeks off work and normal activities.
Your breast cancer treatment will depend on:
Sometimes it is not necessary to have a mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery will be more suitable (lumpectomy). Discussing your options with a specialist will be essential in making your treatment decision.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands caused, usually, by an infection. Common symptoms include swelling, pain, redness and sometimes a mild fever.
The usual symptoms of mastitis are:
One of the main causes of mastitis is the lack of hygiene. However, this condition often occurs when a woman is breastfeeding. During breastfeeding, the skin of the nipples can crack and allow the bacteria that live on the skin to penetrate the fatty tissue of the breast. The proliferation of bacteria produces a blockage that makes it difficult for milk to exit through the mammary ducts.
Breastfeeding helps prevent mastitis. When the baby sucks, the ducts are emptied and cleaned of possible infections or obstructions that may occur.
To eliminate the infection, you will usually be prescribed antibiotics and analgesics to relieve pain. Other recommendations are the application of local heat through damp cloths for 15-20 minutes four times a day, good hygiene, avoiding prolonged periods without breastfeeding or using a milk pump. It is also essential to get enough rest and drink plenty of fluids. If mastitis is not treated properly and the infection gets worse, an abscess may occur. The abscesses must be drained, either through outpatient treatment or surgery.
Obesity is defined as having an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat on the body, enough so that it can be a risk to the health of the person.
There most common way of classifying the amount of weight on the body, and what constitutes as a healthy balance, is the body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms, by your height, squared. The NHS classifies obesity as having a body mass index of 30 to 39.9, with those over 40 being classified as severely obese, though it is not necessarily the case as those with a large amount of muscle could be classified as obese due to their weight, when it may not actually be accurate. Another way of measuring excess fat is to measure waist circumference, for men, obesity is generally considered as being larger than 94cm (37in), and 80cm (21.5in) for women.
Simply speaking, obesity is caused by consuming more calories than are burned off through physical activity. When food is consumed, especially excessive amounts of fat and sugar in the diet, the body stores it as energy, in the form of fat.
There are some health conditions that can lead to obesity and weight gain, such as problems with the thyroid, especially hypothyroidism.
The best ways of treating obesity is to increase the amount of physical activity you perform on a regular basis, and to reduce the amount of calories eaten, along with eating a healthy, balanced diet.
There are a number of ways that you can do this, such as joining a weight loss group to help you manage your diet and motivate you to continue sticking to it. You can also start activities such as walking, swimming or running. You can begin with exercising for short periods of time, before building up to longer periods. There are a number of surgical procedures available to help deal with weight loss in more severe circumstances, such as gastric band, gastric bypass, and biliopancreatic diversion.
Obesity can be detrimental to the health, leading to problems in different areas of the body. It can cause strain on the heart, leading to coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other conditions. It is one of the leading causes of diabetes type 2, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and infertility and can also have detrimental psychiatric effects such as depression along side often having a social stigma.
To see a specialist to help with obesity, click here.
Obesity is one of the most common diseases of modern society, caused by bad eating habits that cause a metabolic disorder in the form of excess fat and consequently overweight. If the caloric intake that provides the body is greater than that required or consumed is stored as fat. Besides, obesity may result in the acquisition of other diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, high cholesterol or cardiovascular risk. In any case, obesity treatment tailored to each person according to their age, physique, medical history and daily habits is required. By measuring the body mass index patient's degree of obesity it is known and established a slimming diet should be low calorie, low fat, with the establishment of a rehabilitation plan of eating habits and exercise. The tandem diet-exercise physical is essential for weight loss.
Obesity is one of the most common diseases of modern society, caused by bad eating habits that cause a metabolic disorder in the form of excess fat and consequently overweight. If the caloric intake that provides the body is greater than that required or consumed is stored as fat. Besides, obesity may result in the acquisition of other diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, high cholesterol or cardiovascular risk. In any case, obesity treatment tailored to each person according to their age, physique, medical history and daily habits is required. By measuring the body mass index patient's degree of obesity it is known and established a slimming diet should be low calorie, low fat, with the establishment of a rehabilitation plan of eating habits and exercise. The tandem diet-exercise physical is essential for weight loss.
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I had a consultation with Ms Choy and she was excellent. She had a nice manner about her, listened carefully and was honest in her assessment of my issue.
Highly recommend Miss Choy, very nice and approachable.