Breast Cancer Surgery Plan

Written by Zhang Chao Jie
Breast Surgery
Updated on June 04, 2025
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The surgical plan for breast cancer is a significant issue, as it involves determining whether the breast cancer is in its early stages, the location of the cancerous mass in the breast, whether the axilla and lymph nodes are affected, and whether there are distant metastases, among other factors, in order to make a comprehensive judgment. Therefore, breast cancer surgery is designed based on the location and size of the tumor in the breast, whether the skin and axillary lymph nodes are involved. For early-stage breast cancer, there are surgical methods that allow for the preservation of the breast and even the axilla, known as breast-conserving and axilla-conserving surgery. If a patient with breast cancer can receive such treatment, they have more than a 70% chance of completely curing the disease, while still retaining the breast and axilla. Thus, there are multiple surgical options for breast cancer, and each individual’s situation is different.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Early manifestations of breast cancer

Early-stage breast cancer is primarily characterized by a single, painless small lump, which is hard with unclear boundaries and a rough surface, blending indistinguishably with surrounding tissues and difficult to move within the breast. It is usually discovered accidentally or while bathing. Swollen lymph nodes may be present, and the nipple may be inverted with possible bloody discharge. As the tumor grows, it may invade the Cooper's ligaments, causing the skin to dimple, a condition known as peau d'orange. These are all early symptoms of breast cancer. If the condition progresses, it may lead to a skin texture resembling orange peel.

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Written by Zhang Chao Jie
Breast Surgery
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Does early-stage breast cancer hurt?

Early-stage breast cancer almost has no symptoms, and over 90% of breast cancer cases do not involve pain symptoms, especially in the early stages. This means that only early-stage breast cancer combined with breast hyperplasia-like diseases might involve pain. Generally speaking, early-stage breast cancer has no pain symptoms, and one might not feel anything abnormal. It is only during a health checkup that breast cancer can be detected by a breast specialist through palpation or imaging techniques such as color Doppler ultrasound or mammography without the patient feeling any symptoms. Pain may occur only if there is early-stage breast cancer combined with hyperplasia, or if the breast has been injured.

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Written by Fan Hong Qiao
Breast Health Department
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What is invasive breast cancer?

Invasive breast cancer is the most common tumor in women, accounting for 22% of all malignant tumors in females. Invasive breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor where cancer cells have broken through the basement membrane of the breast ducts or lobular alveoli and invaded the interstitium. The vast majority of invasive breast cancers are adenocarcinomas, originating from the epithelial cells of the breast parenchyma, especially from the terminal duct lobular units. Its characteristics include the tumor's infiltration into adjacent tissues and a marked tendency for distant metastasis.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Breast Cancer Screening Methods

Breast cancer screening methods start with manual palpation to check for lumps. Second, mammography is used, which is the most effective method for early diagnosis of breast cancer with a sensitivity of 80%-90%. Additionally, breast ultrasound and B-ultrasound examinations can be performed, which are simple, safe, and non-invasive. Another available method is breast MRI, which provides more accurate differentiation between benign and malignant tumors. Lastly, a biopsy using a hollow needle can also be done.

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Oncology
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Early-stage breast cancer symptoms

Early-stage breast cancer may exhibit several symptoms. The first is the presence of breast lumps. The second symptom might be nipple discharge, which can be serous, watery, or milky in nature. The third symptom might involve changes in the skin over the breast tumor, including skin adhesion, such as dimpling, engorgement of superficial veins, skin reddening, localized increase in temperature, and an orange-peel texture. The fourth symptom includes abnormalities of the nipple and areola, potentially featuring nipple retraction, erosion of the nipple, thickening of the nipple epithelium, and reddening. The fifth symptom could be breast pain.