Types of Breast Cancer Surgeries in India

Aishwarya Pillai

May 9, 2023, Treatments

Breast Cancer has surpassed skin cancer to become the most prevalent cancer globally. It starts as a harmless lump around the breast but can become a cancerous tumor in no time. But unlike many cancers, breast cancer can be cured with timely treatments. There are many types of breast cancer surgeries that an individual can undergo to get themselves cured. Angelina Jolie is one of the celebrities to undergo breast cancer surgery.

(People Also Like To Read: Breast Cancer Treatment in India: Costs, Treatments and Hospitals)

In this article, we will be discussing various types of breast cancer surgeries. The surgery depends on the type and stage of breast cancer that one is afflicted with.

Keep on reading!

Various Types Of Breast Cancer Surgeries

Due to the advancement in medical technology, there are a lot many surgeries available for an individualtoundergo. Dependingonthetypeofbreast cancer, youcaneitherget yourlymph nodes removed or the whole breast. One can also undergo breast reconstruction surgery to maintain their figure. If detected early, these surgeries can drastically slow down the cancer and stop it from spreading to other body parts.

Types of Breast Cancer Surgeries in India

These surgeries can also be combined with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, to have a more pronounced effect. At later stages of breast cancer, surgeries such as mastectomy are generally combined with chemotherapy.

Click here to book an appointment!

The various types of breast cancer surgeries are:

1.Lumpectomy

As the name suggests, a lumpectomy is a medical procedure to remove cancerous breast lumps. In a lumpectomy, the surgeon removes the cancerous tissues and a small amount of healthy tissue surrounding it. This ensures that all of the cancerous tissue has been removed. Lumpectomyis also called partial mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery, as, unlike in mastectomy, only a tiny portion of the breast is removed, keeping your natural breast intact. The following procedures are considered forms of lumpectomy:

 wedge resection, in which a larger wedge of tissue is removed

 quadrantectomy, in which roughly a quarter of the breast is removed

A lumpectomyis an excellent option for early-stage breast cancer. At times, this procedure is done to rule out breast cancer. Lumpectomy is usually combined with radiation therapy to kill the remaining cancer cells, further reducing the chances of reoccurrence. Sometimes, surgeons use a technique called cavity shave margins, where a thin layer of the tissue from the sides of the area from where they remove the tumor is shaved to ensure no cancer cells remain behind.

A lumpectomy is an outpatient surgery that usually takes one hour to complete. It means that the patient can go home after the surgery. The surgeon also checks the lymph nodes during the procedure to see whether the cancer has spread to other parts.

Also called oncoplasty, oncoplastic lumpectomy is a reconstructive procedure done along lumpectomy to reshape the breast after removing the tumor.

You are the perfect candidate for a lumpectomy if:

 Cancer affects only a tiny part of your breast

 The size of the tumor is relatively smaller than your breast

 You will have enough breast tissue to reshape your breast post-surgery

 You will be able to complete radiotherapy

2.Mastectomy

Mastectomy is a type of breast cancer surgery where major or all of the breast tissue is removed to stop the cancer from growing. Individuals at high risk of breast cancer undergo this surgery as a preventive measure. These include individuals carrying specific oncogenes. Depending upon the surgery plan, mastectomy can be combined with breast reconstruction surgery, which can be done post-mastectomy.

The majority of types of breast cancer require a mastectomy. Other reasons include:

 A lumpectomy is not an option due to the size of the breast

 You carry genetic mutations that may lead to breast cancer

 Reoccurrence of breast cancer after treatment (radiotherapy)

 Pregnancy

 Advanced-stage breast cancer

 Inflammatory breast cancer

Many types of mastectomies exist, depending on how much breast tissue and lymph nodes are removed. They are:

 Total/Simple Mastectomy: Removes all breast tissues except your pectoral muscles beneath.

 Double/Bilateral mastectomy: A total mastectomy of both breasts.

 Skin-sparing or Nipple-sparing mastectomy: Removes the breast tissues but spares the skin and/or nipple for breast reconstruction.

 Radical mastectomy: Removal of all your breast tissue, underarm lymph nodes, and pectoral muscles underneath. The surgery has become rare nowadays but can become necessary if the cancer has spread to your muscles.

 Modified radical mastectomy: Remove your breast tissue and underarm lymph nodes on the same side.

 Mastectomy with breast reconstruction: You can include breast reconstruction surgery in your surgery plan for a mastectomy. The Plastic surgery can be done with your mastectomy or later in a separate surgery.

Youcan combinemastectomywithothertreatments, suchas hormonetherapy orradiation therapy, to lower the chances of breast cancer.

3.LymphNodeSurgery

A biopsyis a diagnostic procedure that uses a tiny amount of affected tissue is examined under the microscope for cancer or other ailments. It is often done with a needle, either a core needle biopsy or a fine needle aspiration (FNA). But many times, especially in breast cancer, one or more lymph nodes may have to be removed to be checked in a lab. This happens because lymph nodes under the arms, near the collarbone, or the breastbone are the first to get affected once breast cancer spreads.

Lymph node removal can be done differently, depending on whether any lymph nodes are enlarged, the breast tumor’s size, and other factors. Lymph nodes are not removed via surgery unless they are swollen or enlarged. If cancer is found in them, more are removed surgically.

These types of breast cancer surgeries include:

 Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Here, the surgeon removes the first lymph nodes, called the sentinel lymph nodes. To do this, a radioactive substance (or a blue dye) or a liquid containing coated iron oxide particles is injected into the tumor and the area around it. The sentinel lymph nodes are found by using a machine to detect radioactivity or iron oxide particles in the lymph nodes or looking for nodes that have turned blue due to the dye. The surgeon then cuts the area and removes the affected lymph nodes. It can be done during the surgery as well.

 Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: If SLNB comes positive, your healthcare practitioner may suggest you undergo ALND. In this, 10 to 40 lymph nodes are removed from under the arm and checked for cancer spread. It can be done along with mastectomy or lumpectomy or can be done in a separate operation.

Lymph node surgery, a type of breast cancer surgery, is often done as part of the primary surgery to remove the breast cancer, but sometimes it is done as a separate operation.

(You Might Also Like To Read: What Vaccinations Are Required For Travel To India?)

What is The Cost of Breast Cancer Surgery in India?

Various types of breast cancer surgeries in India are available at one’s disposal. Depending on the type of breast cancer surgery that one has chosen to undergo, the cost ranges from $3000 to $6000.

Click here to book an appointment!

Top Hospitals for Various Types of Breast Cancer Surgeries in India

MGM Healthcare is a 400-bedded super specialty hospital in Chennai. The hospital offers various cancer treatments, including breast cancer surgeries. It provides multiple types of breast cancer surgeries in India.

To learn more and book an appointment, click here!

Established in: 2016

Location: Chennai, India

Accreditation: JCI and NABH

Multi-specialty: Multi-specialty

Address: No 54, Old, 72, Nelson Manickam Rd, Aminjikarai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600029

2.VenkateshwarHospital

Venkateshwar Hospital, established by the Venkateshwar group, is one of India’s best hospitals for breast cancer surgery. It has collaborated with top medical insurance providers and has made provisions to provide cashless treatment for insurance patients.

To learn more and book an appointment, click here!

Established in: 1993

Location: Delhi NCR, India

Accreditation: JCI and NABH

Multi-specialty: Multi-specialty

Address: Sector 12 Rd, Sector 18, Sector 18A Dwarka, Dwarka, New Delhi, Delhi 110075

3.BLKSuperSpecialtyHospital

BLK Super specialty hospital is one of the oldest healthcare establishments in India. The multisuper specialty hospital has a top-notch infrastructure with 650 inpatient beds, 125 critical care beds, and 17dedicatedoperationtheatres. Thehospital comeswith ateam ofrenownedoncologists and surgeons to provide a hassle-free experience to the patient. It offers various types of breast cancer surgeries in India.

To learn more and book an appointment, click here!

Established in: 1959

Location: Delhi NCR, India

Accreditation: JCI and NABH

Multi-specialty: Multi-specialty

Address: Blk Super Specialty Hospital, Pusa Rd, Radha Soami Satsang, Rajendra Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110005