Breast Surgery
Women’s Health Center at Wise Regional Health System
We Care About Your Care
Our dedication to women’s health means you can rely on Wise Regional Health System throughout your life to continue bringing you the most advanced medical expertise in women’s health care to meet your changing needs.
Oncology
The North Texas Cancer Center and Oncology Services at Wise Regional provide the latest
technologies in cancer treatment, including radiation and chemotherapy
treatments, close to home.
Imaging
Our imaging department offers the most advanced technology in Wise County.
Mammography
We offer both digital mammography, equipped with CAD software which
aids radiologists in the interpretation of mammograms and stereotactic
breast biopsies, which offer a non-surgical method of assessing a breast
abnormality.
Bone Density
Effective, quick and painless, these tests accurately detect osteoporosis
and show how much, if any, damage has occurred.
Calcium Score
Cardiac calcium scoring uses a special X-ray test to check for heart
disease in an early stage and to determine how severe it is.
Learn more
3-D & 4-D Ultrasounds/ Sonograms
From a yawn to a stretch to the beating of your baby’s heart, expectant
parents can now see and bond with their unborn child through our advanced sonogram technology.
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Whether you are choosing cosmetic surgery as a way to rejuvenate your
body or are in need of reconstructive surgery after cancer, injury or
trauma, New Leaf Plastic Surgery provides the services to help you
achieve your surgery goals.
Learn more
Mary’s Gift
The Mary’s Gift Program provides free mammograms to low-income,
uninsured or under-insured women in Wise County. Mary’s Gift is funded
by community donations.
Learn more
Breast Surgery
From the initial screening process and diagnostic services, to treatment and post-surgical care, The Women’s Center at Wise Regional is passionate about providing a caring, comfortable environment for women with breast cancer.
As is the case for most women diagnosed with breast cancer, surgery of some type is often needed. Depending on the type of cancer, these surgeries can range from a biopsy to a full mastectomy.
Our caring physician and staff are here to support you through this process.
Stages of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is identified in “stages” ranging from Level 0 (non-invasive cancer with no spreading of cancerous cells to normal tissue or lymph nodes) to Level IV (the most advanced stage with the cancer having spread to other organs or tissues in the body away from the breast.)
Staging is conducted to help give doctors an idea for your prognosis and help guide treatment decisions.
Types of Surgery
Lumpectomy
In a lumpectomy, only the lump itself removed along with surrounding tissue. Most often radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy is used following surgery.
Partial mastectomy
A partial mastectomy involves removing part of the affected breast along with the lump itself. A Quadrantectomy is a partial mastectomy in which one quarter of the breast is removed. As with a lumpectomy, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy may follow.
Re-Excision
With any of these surgeries, if cancer cells are detected in the tissue that’s been removed, an additional surgery, called a re-excision, may need to be performed to remove more tissue to make sure the patient has clear margins (when no cancer cells remain at the tissue edges).
Total Mastectomy
If the surgeon is not able to remove enough breast tissue alone to get clear margins, a full mastectomy to remove the entire affected breast may be needed. And if needed, a Double Mastectomy will be performed to remove both breasts. This is done most often as a preventative surgery in women who are at very high risk for breast cancer.
Questions for your doctor
- What will my treatment be?
- How soon after diagnosis do I begin treatment?
- How long will my treatment last?
- What are the risks and side effects?
- How do I prepare for surgery?
- When can I go back to work?
- How long will I be in the hospital?
Breast Reconstruction
For many women who’ve had a mastectomy, what their body will look like post-surgery is often a big concern. Body image and self esteem are an important part of who we are and the effects of breast surgery are emotional as well as physical. Breast reconstruction surgery can help.
For many women, reconstructive surgery is the option they choose to restore their breasts to a normal shape, size and appearance. Often times, reconstructive surgery can be performed at the same as the mastectomy, but if you’ll be going through radiation therapy, you may have to wait.
There are different types of reconstructive surgery, ranging from implants to tissue flap procedures – which use a patient’s own tissue from another part of the body to rebuild the breast. Talk to your doctor and plastic surgeon about your choices before your mastectomy, this will give them a treatment plan that is best for you, even if you aren’t having reconstructive surgery right away.
Process
Pre-Surgery
Several days or weeks before:
- Discuss medical history with your doctor. Even if you think it’s irrelevant or even embarrassing, it’s important to your safety for your physician to know everything, including any medications you are currently taking, and any past reactions to medications or procedures.
- Pre-op testing to assure you’re body is ready for surgery. This may include EKG and chest e-ray to show proper heart and lung function, blood tests to check blood counts, liver and kidney function, and a urine test to check kidney function.
- Donate blood to ensure your own blood is available should you need additional blood during surgery.
Day of surgery:
- Meet with the anesthesiologist to go over medical history and any allergies you may have.
- Sign consent forms.
Surgery
You’ll be prepped for surgery in the operating room after you’ve been anesthetized. This includes a blood pressure cuff, electrocardiograph machine to monitor your heart rate, a finger clip to measure your blood oxygen levels and anesthesia, a breathing tube, and antiseptic solution will be used to clean the area to be operated on and you will be covered with a sterile drape, leaving the surgical area clear.
Post-Surgery
Recovery
After surgery you will go to a recovery room where you will be monitored until you are awake and stable enough to go home – if you’ve had an outpatient procedure, or be moved to a hospital room for your stay.
Your doctor may suggest you start moving around as soon as the morning after surgery to prevent stiffness.
If you’ve had a lumpectomy, you may be able to resume your normal activities within a few days of surgery, and within a few weeks if you’ve had a mastectomy.
Results
Once the results are in from your pathology report, your doctor will review them with you and discuss what next steps should be taken, if any, including chemotherapy and radiation.
It may take up to 7 days to get the results of the pathology report for your lumpectomy or mastectomy. This will be a difficult time. Discuss with your doctor how you’ll get the information, by phone or future office visit?
Reconstructive Surgery
If you choose to have breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy, you should consult a plastic surgeon first, as well as discuss your decision with your breast surgeon. Some reconstructive surgeries can be performed at the same time as the mastectomy, and some may be done in the months following.
Questions to ask your plastic surgeon
- Am I a candidate for reconstructive surgery?
- What type of reconstruction surgery would be best for me?
- How many procedures will I need?
- What are the risks and complications associated with these procedures?
- What is the recovery time?
