Is it necessary to remove the breast if you have breast cancer?

Clinically, many breast cancer patients, once they learn that they have breast cancer, first think that the breast should be removed, and it is best to remove the breast completely, so that the risk of breast cancer recurrence and metastasis is relatively low. In fact, this is a wrong view. Clinically, it has been proven that patients who have had partial breast removal also have recurrence and metastasis. In European and American countries, the breast conservation rate of breast cancer patients has reached more than 60%, and most early breast cancer patients basically choose breast conservation surgery. At present, the average rate of breast conservation surgery for breast cancer in China is only 10%, which is relatively low.

The best time to have breast cancer surgery

Breast cancer surgery follows the principles of early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment. Usually, surgery is most effective when the breast cancer is in stage I or II. If it is stage III or above, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is required to reduce the tumor and stage before surgery, which can improve the patient's survival and quality of life. Breast cancer surgery types include modified radical mastectomy and breast-conserving radical mastectomy. Breast-conserving radical mastectomy is suitable for ordinary stage I and II patients. If patients in stage III or above undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy, breast-conserving radical mastectomy can be performed according to the patient's willingness to preserve the breast.

What should you pay attention to after breast cancer surgery

Precautions after breast cancer surgery include: 1. Pay attention to mental health and do not feel inferior due to your own condition; 2. Maintain good eating habits, eat more nutritious food, eat less or no raw, cold, or moldy food; 3. Pay attention to protecting the affected limbs to prevent skin damage or excessive fatigue; 4. Follow the doctor's advice and actively do rehabilitation to prevent functional limitations of the affected limbs in the future; 5. Regular check-ups, once every 3-6 months within 1-3 years after surgery; once every six months to one year within 3-5 years. Once there are signs of recurrence or metastasis, treatment should be carried out in a timely manner.