A breast mass, also known as a breast lump, refers to lesions or lumps in the breast that are noticed during self-breast examinations, during a doctor's examination, or through various diagnostic tests.
Breast masses can originate from the milk-producing glands in the breast, the milk ducts, or the fatty and connective tissue that make up the breast. Fluctuations and changes in hormone levels can contribute to the development of breast masses. It's important to note that not every breast lump is cancerous.
The majority of breast masses are benign (non-cancerous). However, the significance of breast masses lies in their potential link to breast cancer, which is one of the most common cancers in women.
Every breast mass should be evaluated to determine whether it is cancerous or not. If there is suspicion of cancer, a biopsy should be performed, and based on the biopsy results, surgical intervention may be necessary if cancer is confirmed.
Breast masses can originate from the milk-producing glands, milk ducts, fatty tissue, and connective tissue that make up the breast. The formation of masses in the breast, like the breast itself, can be influenced by hormonal changes, which can lead to the development of these masses.
The symptoms of a breast mass can include:
The majority of breast masses are detected by patients during self-breast examinations. Therefore, performing regular self-breast examinations is crucial. Self-breast examinations, when done monthly, allow patients to check themselves 12 times a year. In contrast, doctors typically examine patients once a year. Masses that a patient may not notice are often discovered by experienced physicians and through imaging methods such as breast ultrasound, mammography, MRI, and other diagnostic techniques.
A benign breast mass, or a benign breast lump, refers to a mass in the breast that is non-cancerous. It signifies that the mass is not cancerous. Benign breast masses are often managed by regular follow-up and monitoring.
In case of any suspicion, further diagnostic tests can be conducted to confirm whether it is cancerous or not. It's important to note that not every breast mass indicates cancer, and not all breast masses require surgical intervention.
Not every breast mass is dangerous or cancerous. In fact, the majority of breast masses are benign. However, any breast mass that is identified should be thoroughly examined and tested to rule out cancer.
The majority of breast masses are benign, including simple cysts, milk duct issues, intraductal papillomas, and fat necrosis, among others. Therefore, most of these lesions are benign, and monitoring is typically recommended. However, if there is a change in shape, size, distortion, or other alterations observed through imaging methods, it may necessitate a biopsy or surgical intervention.
If a breast lump is suspected, and a biopsy has been performed, leading to a cancer diagnosis, the choice of breast cancer surgery will depend on the type of cancer, its size, and the pathological findings.
Breast lump surgery in Turkey typically involves either diagnostic procedures to determine the nature of the lump or therapeutic measures to remove the lump entirely or partially. This can be accomplished through needle biopsies (fine needle or core needle biopsies) or surgical interventions like incisional biopsy or total excision.
Breast lump surgery is performed under either local or general anesthesia, depending on the location of the lump within the breast. If the lump is conveniently located near the areola, the brown area around the nipple, the surgeon makes an incision along the edge of the areola to access and remove the lump. However, if the lump is situated away from the areola or if it cannot be easily reached through an areola-edge incision, the surgeon makes an incision over the lump for direct access and removes the entire lump.
The duration of a breast lump removal surgery, conducted under either local or general anesthesia, typically takes about 20-30 minutes. Patients are usually discharged on the same day.
The size of a breast lump alone does not necessarily determine its malignancy. Surgical planning for cancer typically follows a biopsy confirming malignancy. For benign breast lumps, it is often recommended to remove them when they reach a size of approximately 3 cm or larger, especially if they are causing cosmetic deformities, even if they are not cancerous.
In breast lump surgeries, if the lump is accessible through an incision made along the edge of the areola (the brown area around the nipple),the resulting scar is typically inconspicuous and may go unnoticed or be very minimal. This way, there may be no noticeable scar.
However, when the lump is located in an area where it cannot be reached through an incision along the areola edge, incisions made over the lump can result in visible but usually very small (line-shaped) scars.
Breast lump surgeries do not carry specific risks associated with the surgery itself. The existing risks are the same as those for any surgery.
After a breast lump is surgically removed, if the lump is benign (non-cancerous),the patient's regular breast follow-up care continues. The removal of the lump does not alter the patient's existing risk. Therefore, follow-up care should be continued at regular intervals as if no surgery had taken place.
After breast lump surgery, if the incision was made in a location other than the areola margin, some precautions can be taken to minimize scarring. Typically, absorbable sutures are used, and there's no need to do anything with them. However, if non-absorbable sutures were used to close the surgical site, they should be removed within approximately 10 days.
Patients should take care not to subject the surgical area to any trauma (such as bumping or hitting) during the postoperative period. If there is redness, swelling, excessive sensitivity, or any concerns about infection at the surgical site, it's essential to consult with the surgeon who performed the operation. Every patient who undergoes lump surgery should continue with regular breast follow-up care.
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Prof. Dr. Sezai AydınGeneral Surgery Turkey
PROF. DR. SEZAI AYDIN
