In those tragic cases where a full mastectomy is required to treat breast cancer, reconstruction is a welcome option. With modern techniques and materials it is possible to restore appearance to a near invisible state. Carried out by specialized plastic surgeons, restoration is now commonplace.

There are many different techniques an each case is unique and approached on an individual and personalized basis. A consultation with a physician is necessary in order to select the right method and approach for you.

One commonly chosen reconstruction technique is breast implants. Today implants are commonly saline filled bags contained within a silicon shell. They are placed in front of the chest wall muscles and under the skin which covers the breast area.

In the past silicon filled implants were more typical. There was a huge concern that the silicon could possibly leak out into the body thus causing problems for the immune system. The FDA recently announced after years of study that there isn’t much basis for worry and silicon breast implants are now legal again. Some individuals prefer silicon implants because they behave differently.

In many instances reconstruction can be performed during the mastectomy. In other instance physicians recommend a waiting period to allow the body to completely recover and heal prior to undergoing any additional surgery. Each case is individual and can only be decided by the physician and the patient in question.

Usually, two-staged delayed reconstruction is performed if the skin and chest wall tissues are flat. In this instance an implant, called a tissue expander that functions much like a balloon under the tissue, is placed underneath the muscle. A surgeon then injects saline in stages over a specific period of time. In some cases the expander itself eventually becomes the implant. In other instances the expander is removed during a later procedure and replaced with a permanent implant.

Another breast surgery type that might be conducted are tissue flap procedures. These procedures use skin from the stomach, thighs or other areas as part of the entire process.

TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap) surgery is one of the most common types of muscle flap surgeries. It utilizes tissues from the lower abdominal wall. A pedicle flap leaves the tissue attach to its original blood supply and stretches the tissue up toward the breast area. A free flap muscle procedure removes all of the tissue in addition to muscles, fat, and blood vessels. It then reattaches them to blood vessels under the chest.

Another, almost equally common procedure takes tissue from the upper back. A flap is moved in front of the chest wall in effort to create a pocket. A breast implant is then inserted into the pocket. Additionally, other procedures are available such as gluteal muscle tissue.

In each instance nipple and/or areola reconstruction may or may not be in order. In some instances it will be done simultaneously with breast reconstruction, in others it might be done later, sometimes it is not even done at all. The original nipple is rarely used as a replacement as it has yet to be determined whether or not it can regenerate cancer.

Keep in mind that reconstructive surgery is not performed without risks.

All of the normal surgical complications such as infection or scarring, and capsular contracture (scar tissue forming around the implant) can occur. Additionally breast implants might not last a lifetime, and depending upon each individual’s circumstances including age. Replacing your implants might require an additional surgery at a later time period in life. The end result might or might not be what the patient wanted or expected. Only a consultation with a physician specializing in reconstruction will provide the patient with realistic outcomes to expect.

Generally, about 1 in 12 women will contract breast cancer at some age and the odds are higher later in life. Courtesy of modern medicine, many breast cancers can be successfully treated with minimum impact. However, one’s treatment success level is extremely dependent on early detection. The earlier breast cancer is detected the higher your chance for survival. One easy way to increase the odds of early discovery is the performance of a regular breast self exam.

The purpose of breast self examination is early detection of changes that might signal a condition that needs further investigation by either a professional clinical exam, mammogram or other diagnostic tool. Any changes could potentially indicate an abnormality. But to be able to determine what is abnormal one must know what is normal. Normal varies from individual to individual even though there are commonalities.

The first step in conducting a proper self-exam is to know what your own breasts feel and look like in general. Each and every part of the body goes through subtle changes on a regular basis. Throughout the menstrual cycle these changes might be exaggerated. Breasts may become enlarged and even more sensitive. If you start your self-exam a few days prior to your period every month it will become a habit. If you are post-menopausal you should choose the same day each month to perform the exam.

Remove your clothing and stand in front of a mirror and make a visual inspection of your breasts. Look for any changes that might be present in only one breast. Normal menstrual cycles and other hormonally related variations typically affect both breasts simultaneously. Look for any changes in breast size or areola (the darker skin around the nipple). Make note of any wrinkling orange-peel like skin that isn’t from cold temperature. Most areola are round. Observe the breasts for any lack of symmetry.

Squeeze the nipples gently noting any fluid that comes out. For some women some lactation is normal. Yellowish, pus-like fluid may need to be further examined by a physician. It could be a simple infection or it could be an early sign of a developing tumor. Make sure you examine both nipples.

Check the breast for tumors by feeling carefully over the entire surface of the breast with your arms lowered. Make sure you include not just the surface from the breast bone to the side, but also up toward the armpit as well. Press your finger pass firmly moving your hand slowly as your feel for any thickening or lumps.

A lump could be nothing more than a simple cyst which is a fluid filled tissue sac. Often cysts are round and palpable. They are typically benign even though you might want to have them removed. Cysts usually fade spontaneously over time.

Cancerous lumps are typically harder and less regular in shape. They are usually attached to an individual’s breast tissue. Not all hard lumps should be immediately deemed cancerous, so don’t be unnecessarily alarmed. Most are simply what are called fibroadenomas- which are merely benign clumps of cells. Professional tests are necessary in order to know for sure.

Be particularly aware of any lumps which change in size. Cancer is a malignant, uncontrolled growth of cells in tissue. As such, cancer tumors don’t remain static but increase in size and, later, may spread to other parts of the body.

Continue your self-exam by raising the arms over your head and applying pressure all the way from the breastbone to the armpit again. Make sure you do this on both sides and breasts.

You want to make sure you perform the procedure again, this time while lying down with the arms lowered and then raised overhead. This is again for the observation of any changes, especially tissues that have become hard. The procedure can be repeated in the shower in effort to reduce friction on the skin, but sometimes it is difficult to find changes or lumps when water is splashing on your skin, you might want to use baby oil instead.

Women age 20 and over should be performing breast self-exams on a regular basis, and women over 40 should get a mammogram annually.

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