Contraindications
Factors that may eliminate the possibility of undergoing a mastectomy include certain contraindications. Persons with distant metastasis, advanced local diseases with skin or chest wall involvement, or those who are too elderly or sick to withstand the surgery are generally not recommended for mastectomies. Surgeons may be hesitant to operate on such patients due to concerns about wound closure and achieving clean cancer-free margins.
In some cases, alternative treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or other therapies may be used to reduce tumor size, making surgery a viable option at a later time.
A Shift Towards Breast Conservation
In the past, radical mastectomies were the go-to surgical procedure for breast cancer treatment. However, with the advancements in effective treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy, there has been a shift towards a breast-conserving approach. As a result, the rate of mastectomies has significantly decreased.
Various studies have demonstrated that there is no significant difference in survival rates over a twenty-year period between patients who undergo lumpectomies with lymph node removal (with or without radiation) and those who opt for modified radical mastectomies. These findings support the practice of breast conservation and highlight the success of modern surgical techniques in treating breast cancer.