What are the signs of breast cancer?
The most common sign of breast cancer is a hard lump in your breast. Other symptoms of breast cancer include:
- Swelling on part or all of your breast
- Skin irritation or dimpling
- Pain in your breast or nipple
- Nipple retraction
- Red, scaly, or thickened skin on the nipples
- Nipple discharge
However, you may not find a lump, or experience any other symptoms.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
A mammogram is a particular type of X-ray that shows details about your breast tissue, including any abnormal cell growth. Women should start to have mammograms between the ages of 40 and 44, especially if they have a family history of breast cancer. You should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45-54 and then every other year after your 55th birthday. Your doctor will provide customized advice on when you can stop having mammograms.
In addition to mammograms, you should check your breasts at home every month, feeling for any lumps or abnormalities. Your doctor will also perform breast exams at your annual well-woman visit.
How is breast cancer treated?
At Sahai Surgical Specialists, Dr. Sahai provides customized surgical treatment for breast cancer. Surgical procedures remove the abnormal tissue, or if you have an aggressive type of cancer or a high risk of recurrent breast cancer, he can remove your breasts.
Lumpectomy
During a lumpectomy, often called breast-conserving surgery, Dr. Sahai carefully removes the abnormal tissue and a small ring of healthy tissue from around the tumor. Dr. Sahai can access the tumor through an incision in your nipple, armpit, or under your breast to reduce your risk of scarring.
Mastectomy
A mastectomy removes your breast tissue in part or whole, depending on your specific needs. Dr. Sahai may also extract your lymph nodes during a mastectomy. There are several types of mastectomies that remove different amounts of tissue to get rid of breast cancer. These include:
- Simple or total mastectomy
- Radical mastectomy
- Modified radical mastectomy
- Partial mastectomy
- Subcutaneous mastectomy
Dr. Sahai provides comprehensive surgical consultations and exams to determine the best surgery to remove your breast cancer and increase your chances of remission.
Benign breast surgeries
In addition to performing breast surgeries to remove cancer, Dr. Sahai also provides surgical procedures to remove other cysts, benign lumps, and infected tissue from your breasts.
Call Sahai Surgical Specialists or make an appointment online today to learn more about your breast cancer treatment options.
