When a woman’s breast tumor is found, she may undergo either a mastectomy (a surgery to remove the whole breast) or a lumpectomy (a procedure to remove just the tumor and a small portion of the surrounding normal tissue). With a lumpectomy, a breast cavity is created which will eventually shrink even further, deforming the skin on the outside of the breast. With both mastectomy and lumpectomy, she may be left with unsightly scarring and a lopsided shape that can be devastating to her self-image.

Fortunately, a new method of breast conservation surgery called, oncoplasty, has emerged. Oncoplasty employs techniques to completely take out the breast tumor while preserving the breast’s appearance. This innovative procedure is performed by St. Joseph Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center surgeons who make a small incision, remove the cancerous mass and reshape the remaining breast tissue so that it fills the cavity left by the extracted tumor. Without implants and without taking tissue from somewhere else in the body, a natural-looking, matching breast is created within a single surgical procedure.

Although lumpectomies aren’t the answer for every patient, many future breast cancer patients will gain from this approach of combining oncologic and plastic surgery. As an added benefit, by reshaping the tissue to produce a smooth, outward appearance of the breast, a greater consistency in internal structure is also gained. Future mammography images will not show a distortion of the breast where the missing tissue would have been, making it much easier to identify a recurrence of breast cancer.

The St. Joseph Hospital Comprehensive Breast Center integrates the most advanced technology, the latest research and extensive experience to provide a full range of detection and treatment options. An all-inclusive team of medical professionals provides consultations for newly diagnosed patients, including those seeking second opinions on the best course of treatment.