About 20 years ago, some interesting research was done which showed that performing mammography on the side of the chest where a mastectomy had been done was of no benefit. If there was a new problem, the researchers found that it would be picked up first with a physical exam. That research was done on women who hadn't had implants or reconstruction.
More recently, research was done on women who'd had reconstruction; in many cases with a so-called TRAM flap procedure, in which abdominal fat and muscle are tunneled under the skin to the breast area. Researchers found that in a few of these women, there was evidence of breast cancer in the TRAM. It is very difficult to remove every cell of breast tissue during a mastectomy, and it's possible that a few remaining cells could be cancer cells that grew after the patient had a mastectomy. However, this situation is very unusual.
Each one of you has a situation that is unique to YOU. You and your doctor should use the information we are giving you this evening to make the best screening and treatment decisions for YOU. If you've had mastectomy for a small cancer and all margins were widely free and clear and there was no lymph node involvement, the risk of recurrence in the area where the cancer developed is very low. If, however, you had a mastectomy for a large breast cancer, or one in which a significant number of lymph nodes were involved, the risk of local recurrence may be significant. In that situation, Dr. Brennecke, what is the best way to evaluate the area?
More recently, research was done on women who'd had reconstruction; in many cases with a so-called TRAM flap procedure, in which abdominal fat and muscle are tunneled under the skin to the breast area. Researchers found that in a few of these women, there was evidence of breast cancer in the TRAM. It is very difficult to remove every cell of breast tissue during a mastectomy, and it's possible that a few remaining cells could be cancer cells that grew after the patient had a mastectomy. However, this situation is very unusual.
Each one of you has a situation that is unique to YOU. You and your doctor should use the information we are giving you this evening to make the best screening and treatment decisions for YOU. If you've had mastectomy for a small cancer and all margins were widely free and clear and there was no lymph node involvement, the risk of recurrence in the area where the cancer developed is very low. If, however, you had a mastectomy for a large breast cancer, or one in which a significant number of lymph nodes were involved, the risk of local recurrence may be significant. In that situation, Dr. Brennecke, what is the best way to evaluate the area?
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