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Results

By Mayo Clinic staff

The results of your pathology report should be available within a week after your mastectomy. At your follow-up visit, your doctor will explain the report. If you need more treatment, your doctor may refer you to:

  • A radiation oncologist to discuss radiation treatments, which may be recommended if you had a large tumor, many lymph nodes that tested positive for cancer, cancer that had spread into the skin or nipple, or cancer remaining after mastectomy
  • A medical oncologist to discuss other forms of treatment after the operation, such as hormone therapy, if your cancer is sensitive to hormones, or chemotherapy, or both
  • A plastic surgeon, if you're considering breast reconstruction
  • A counselor or support group to help you cope with having breast cancer

Mastectomy offers a cure for many women with breast cancer. Advances in mastectomy and breast reconstruction techniques have led to less invasive and more cosmetically satisfying procedures. Most women recover well after mastectomy, both physically and emotionally.

What you can expect
References
  1. Kass RB, et al. Breast procedures. In: Souba W, et al. ACS Surgery: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: BC Decker Inc.; 2007.
  2. Benson JR, et al. Early breast cancer. The Lancet. 2009;373:1463.
  3. Breast cancer. Merck Manuals Online Medical Library for Health Care Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec18/ch253/ch253e.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  4. Sabel MS, et al. Mastectomy and breast conserving therapy for invasive breast cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  5. Breast cancer. NCCN Practice Guidelines in Oncology - v. 1.2009. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  6. Iglehart JD, et al. Surgical treatment of breast cancer. In: Townsend CM, et al. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders, 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154656547-3/875806831/1565/335.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3.50038-1--cesec62_1699. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  7. Hayes DF. An overview of breast cancer and treatment for early stage disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  8. Surgery for breast cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_5.asp?sitearea=. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  9. Mastectomy. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002919.htm. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  10. Giuliano AE. Breast. In: Doherty GM, et al. Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment. McGraw-Hill's AccessMedicine. http://www.accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=2064014&pr. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  11. What's new in breast cancer research and treatment? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_6X_ _Whats_new_in_breast_cancer_research_and_treatment_5.asp?rnav=cri. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  12. Abeloff MD, et al. Cancer of the breast. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology, 4th Ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008.  http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/159336554-2/0/1565/335.html?tocnode=54737888&fromURL=335.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3..50038-1--cesec57_1694. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  13. Breast cancer treatment (PDQ). National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/HealthProfessional. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  14. Phan GQ, et al. Breast diseases. In: Klingensmith ME, et al. The Washington Manual of Surgery. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;2008. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/spb/ovidweb.cgi QS2=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. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.

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Oct. 17, 2009

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