It’s estimated that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. By the time cancer is diagnosed, most women need surgery to remove the cancerous cells. Dr. Mark Schadt and Dr. Richard Conron, Jr., have many years of experience helping women and men facing breast cancer so you can count on their compassionate guidance and expertise in breast surgery. If you have any questions or would like information about breast surgery, call their office in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, or schedule an appointment online for a consultation.
Most cancers are diagnosed after the age of 55, so age increases your overall chance for breast cancer. You may also be at a higher risk for breast cancer if you meet any of the following criteria:
Yes, men do get breast cancer but it’s rare, representing less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer. While men may develop breast cancer at any age, it’s usually found in those between the ages of 60-70 years.
The first symptom in both men and women is often a lump or thickening that can be felt in the breast tissue. In some cases, signs of breast cancer include redness or pitting of the skin and a nipple that becomes scaly, red, or swollen. Breast tissue may look red, swollen, and feel warm, if you have inflammatory breast cancer.
If you see a change in the size or shape of your breast, or your nipple turns inward, contact your doctor for an examination. Sometimes breast cancer has no symptoms at all and is discovered via a mammogram.
The surgeons at General Surgical Care assess abnormal breast imaging studies and surgically treat breast cancer in women and men. They work together with your oncology team to coordinate all your care, since many patients get radiation therapy and chemotherapy in addition to surgery to remove the cancer.
The types of breast surgery performed include:
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node that receives drainage from a tumor, so it’s the first place where cancer is likely to spread.
Breast-conserving surgery
During this type of surgery, also called breast lumpectomy, the tumor and some of the surrounding tissues are removed. Your surgeon at General Surgical Care may also remove lymph nodes or part of the chest wall lining, if necessary.
Mastectomy
During a total mastectomy, the entire breast is removed. Some of the lymph nodes may also be removed so they can be checked for cancer. A modified radical mastectomy is surgery to remove the breast, lymph nodes, the lining over the chest muscles, and sometimes part of the chest wall muscles.
