Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: A Modern Approach to Breast Cancer Surgery

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy (NSM) is a surgical option for patients requiring a mastectomy, in which the breast tissue is removed while the skin, nipple, and areola remain intact. This procedure allows for immediate reconstruction and offers a more natural post-surgery result, giving patients both peace of mind and a sense of body confidence. M. Michele Blackwood, MD, FACS, director of Breast Surgery and director of Women’s Oncologic Health, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute shares more on this surgical technique.

Post-mastectomy radiation therapy can be shortened by nearly half for patients planning breast reconstruction

An accelerated course of radiation therapy does not increase complications for patients who undergo breast reconstruction following a mastectomy, new research shows. Findings of the large, phase III RT CHARM trial (Alliance A221505) will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.

Online tool supports decisions about breast reconstruction after mastectomy

For women with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy, an online decision aid can help in making informed decisions regarding immediate breast reconstruction (IBR), reports a randomized trial in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

American Indian/Alaska Native patients less likely to undergo breast reconstruction

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women with breast cancer have consistently lower rates of breast reconstruction after mastectomy compared to non-Hispanic White women, reports a paper in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Reliable Patient Education Materials on Breast Cancer Are Difficult to Access

Women with breast cancer must often make complex decisions about surgery and treatment options during an already stressful time in their lives, and many of these women may turn to the wide variety of materials available online. New research presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2023 has found that reliable educational materials about breast surgery are not only difficult to assess but are also presented at much higher reading levels than recommended.

Shorter course of radiation therapy is safe for patients with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy and reconstruction

Researchers at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center have found that a shorter course of radiation therapy after mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery provides the same protection against breast cancer recurrence and equivalent physical side-effects but substantially reduces life disruption and financial burden for patients.