Breast Cancer Surgery: Advanced & Personalized Care at MedicalPoint Hospital
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What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Each year, nearly two million women are diagnosed globally. In Türkiye, breast cancer affects approximately 20,000 women annually, making it one of the leading health challenges for women in the country. Today, one in every eight women is estimated to receive a breast cancer diagnosis at some point in her life.
Compared to many other cancer types, breast cancer has a relatively favorable prognosis — especially when detected at an early stage. Early diagnosis not only saves lives but also preserves breast tissue and avoids the need for more aggressive surgical interventions. Thanks to major advances in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, outcomes for breast cancer patients have improved significantly over the years.
At MedicalPoint Hospital, each breast cancer treatment plan is personalized. We take into account multiple factors such as the patient’s age, menopausal status, stage of disease, tumor biology, genetic predisposition, concurrent medical conditions, reproductive plans, and the individual’s preferences.
Our breast cancer patients benefit from a multidisciplinary breast cancer council, where all relevant specialties collaborate to determine the best course of action. This team includes:
- Breast Surgeon (General Surgery Specialist)
- Radiologist
- Pathologist
- Medical Oncologist
- Radiation Oncologist
- Nuclear Medicine Specialist
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
- Medical Geneticist
- Gynecologic Oncologist
Supporting experts from psychiatry, physiotherapy, and nutrition also contribute to comprehensive care.
What is Breast Surgery?
Breast surgery is a specialized field of general surgery that has gained importance due to the increasing incidence of breast cancer and ongoing improvements in surgical techniques. At MedicalPoint, breast surgeries are performed by experienced surgeons with advanced training in oncoplastic breast surgery, combining cancer control with cosmetic outcomes.
Types of Breast Surgery
Breast cancer surgery is broadly divided into two categories:
1. Surgery on the Breast
▸ Breast-Conserving Surgery (Lumpectomy)
In this approach, only the tumor and a margin of surrounding healthy tissue are removed, preserving the rest of the breast. This method is effective in early-stage cancers and aims to maintain the breast’s appearance.
▸ Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
MedicalPoint Hospital utilizes oncoplastic techniques that combine cancer surgery with plastic surgery principles. These procedures allow the removal of larger or multiple tumors with superior cosmetic outcomes. By reshaping or reconstructing the breast during cancer removal, patients experience improved physical and psychological well-being after surgery.
If breast conservation is not possible, simultaneous reconstruction is offered in collaboration with our plastic surgery specialists to maintain the patient’s body image and quality of life.
▸ Mastectomy
In certain cases, removing the entire breast is necessary. This is called a mastectomy. Mastectomies can be:
- Simple/Total Mastectomy – Removal of all breast tissue.
- Skin-Sparing or Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy – Where the skin or nipple is preserved for immediate reconstruction.
▸ Reconstruction After Mastectomy
For patients undergoing mastectomy, our surgeons offer immediate breast reconstruction, either using silicone implants or the patient’s own tissue. These reconstructions are often performed during the same operation to reduce recovery time and psychological impact.
▸ Risk-Reducing (Prophylactic) Mastectomy
Patients with a strong family history of breast cancer or those carrying BRCA mutations may undergo bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy with reconstruction as a preventive strategy. The aim is to reduce future cancer risk while preserving cosmetic integrity.
▸ Radical Mastectomy
This involves removal of the entire breast, chest muscles, and lymph nodes. It is now largely outdated and rarely used due to its aggressiveness and impact on quality of life.
▸ Modified Radical Mastectomy
Here, the breast and axillary (underarm) lymph nodes are removed while sparing the chest muscles. This is still performed in certain cases such as inflammatory breast cancer or when skin involvement is present.
Preoperative Planning: Multidisciplinary Evaluation
Prior to any breast surgery, patients at MedicalPoint are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team consisting of:
- Breast surgeon
- Plastic surgeon
- Oncologist
- Radiologist
- Pathologist
- Nuclear medicine expert
- Radiation oncologist
This holistic assessment ensures a personalized and safe surgical approach tailored to each patient’s clinical and emotional needs.
Removal of Non-Palpable (Non-Detectable by Touch) Breast Lesions
Thanks to modern imaging technologies, many breast cancers are detected before they can be felt as a lump. For these cases, specialized localization methods are used:
▸ Wire Localization
Performed on the day of surgery, a thin wire is inserted into the breast to mark the location of the suspicious area. This wire guides the surgeon during removal.
▸ ROLL (Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization)
A more advanced and comfortable method. A small amount of radioactive material is injected near the lesion, usually a day before surgery. A gamma probe helps the surgeon precisely locate and remove the lesion, minimizing disruption to healthy tissue.
Surgery on the Axilla (Underarm Area)
The status of underarm lymph nodes is crucial for determining the stage of the disease and guiding further treatment.
▸ Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND)
This procedure involves removal of most or all underarm lymph nodes. It is now reserved for cases with widespread lymph node involvement due to the higher risk of complications such as:
- Numbness
- Limited arm movement
- Infections
- Lymphedema (swelling of the arm), which can significantly affect quality of life.
▸ Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB)
Now considered the gold standard. It targets only the first few lymph nodes (sentinel nodes) where cancer is likely to spread first.
At MedicalPoint, we use a dual detection method for accuracy:
- Radiocolloid Injection: A radioactive tracer is injected around the nipple before surgery, followed by lymphoscintigraphy to locate the sentinel nodes.
- Blue Dye Technique: A special dye (isosulfan blue) is injected during surgery to visually mark the sentinel nodes.
By limiting the removal to only the sentinel nodes, the risk of complications is significantly reduced.
Why Choose MedicalPoint Hospital for Breast Cancer Surgery?
At MedicalPoint Hospital, we provide patient-centered, evidence-based care tailored to the unique needs of each individual. Key advantages include:
- Multidisciplinary breast cancer board decision-making
- Experienced breast and oncoplastic surgeons
- Access to the latest surgical technologies and imaging
- Integrated care from diagnostics to reconstruction
- Focus on both oncological safety and aesthetic outcomes
- Comprehensive psychological and nutritional support
Our mission is not only to treat cancer but to support our patients through every step of their journey — physically, emotionally, and socially.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, early consultation with our expert team at MedicalPoint can make a world of difference. Contact us today for personalized evaluation and compassionate care.
FAQ
Early signs include a new lump in the breast or underarm, changes in breast shape or size, nipple discharge, skin dimpling, or redness. However, some cancers are asymptomatic and only detected through routine screening.
Not always. Surgery is a common treatment, but depending on the cancer’s type, size, location, and stage, other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy may be used alone or in combination.
Yes. Breast-conserving surgery (also called lumpectomy) removes only the tumor and a small margin of tissue. It aims to preserve the natural appearance of the breast when medically appropriate.
Oncoplastic surgery combines cancer removal with plastic surgery techniques. This ensures both oncological safety and a better cosmetic result, especially for larger tumors or multiple tumor sites.
Breast reconstruction is optional but recommended for many patients. It can be done during the same surgery (immediate reconstruction) or later, using implants or the patient’s own tissue.
It’s a minimally invasive procedure that identifies and removes only the first lymph nodes likely to be affected by cancer. It helps determine if cancer has spread and reduces complications compared to full lymph node removal.
While effective, this surgery can lead to side effects like arm swelling (lymphedema), numbness, and restricted movement. That’s why it’s now reserved for selected cases with confirmed widespread lymph node involvement.
Recovery varies by procedure. Lumpectomy patients may return to normal activities within a few days, while mastectomy or reconstructive surgery may require 2–6 weeks of recovery.
Often, yes. Depending on pathology results, additional therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, or hormonal therapy may be recommended to reduce recurrence risk.
We provide multidisciplinary, personalized care with state-of-the-art surgical techniques, oncoplastic expertise, advanced imaging, and integrated support services — all under one roof.
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