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What is Mastectomy?

A mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all breast tissue from one or both breasts, typically to treat breast cancer, prevent recurrence, or reduce risk in high-risk patients. It may involve lymph node removal and can be followed by reconstruction. In India, mastectomies are performed in surgical oncology or general surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, Tata Memorial, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.

Why do you need Mastectomy?

Mastectomy is indicated for:

  • Breast cancer:
    • Invasive breast cancer (stages I–III; 20–30% of cases need mastectomy).
    • Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, if extensive or multicentric).
    • Recurrence after lumpectomy or failed breast conservation.
    • Incidence in India: 25–30 per 100,000 women annually; urban areas higher.
  • Prophylactic:
    • High-risk patients (e.g., BRCA1/2 mutations, 55–70% lifetime risk; family history).
  • Associated treatments:
    • Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) or sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to check for spread.
    • Adjuvant therapy: Chemotherapy, radiation, or hormonal therapy (e.g., tamoxifen) based on tumor profile.
    • Reconstruction: Immediate or delayed (e.g., implants, flap surgery as you asked earlier).
  • Timing:
    • Performed in adults (average age 40–60 years at diagnosis); urgency depends on cancer stage.

The procedure aims to remove cancerous tissue, reduce recurrence risk, and provide an option for reconstruction to improve quality of life, with outcomes tailored to cancer stage and patient preference.

Why Do Mastectomy Costs Vary in India?

Costs range from ₹80,000 to ₹2.5 lakh :

  • Procedure Type: Simple mastectomy (₹80,000–₹1.2 lakh); MRM (₹1.2–1.8 lakh); with reconstruction (₹1.8–2.5 lakh).
  • Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹1.2–2.5 lakh); lower in government hospitals (Tata Memorial, AIIMS: ₹30,000–₹80,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
  • Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced surgical oncologists charge more.
  • Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹10,000–₹20,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), pathology (₹5,000–₹10,000), medications (₹5,000–₹10,000).
  • Insurance: Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider.

Mastectomy Procedure

  • Before Surgery Evaluation:
    • Assessment:
    • Preparation: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe; discuss reconstruction options.
    • Consent: Risks, including lymphedema, are explained.
  • Surgical Technique:
    • Mastectomy:
      • Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 1–3 hours (longer with reconstruction).
      • Types:
        • Simple mastectomy: Removes breast tissue, nipple, and areola; no lymph nodes.
        • Modified radical mastectomy (MRM): Removes breast tissue, nipple, areola, and axillary lymph nodes; most common for invasive cancer.
        • Skin-sparing mastectomy: Preserves breast skin for reconstruction; nipple removed.
        • Nipple-sparing mastectomy: Preserves skin and nipple; for prophylactic or select early-stage cases.
      • Process:
        • Incision: Elliptical incision (10–15 cm) across breast; includes nipple/areola (unless nipple-sparing).
        • Breast tissue removed: Down to chest muscle (pectoralis major); skin flaps preserved for closure or reconstruction.
        • Lymph nodes: SLNB (1–3 nodes) or ALND (10–20 nodes) if cancer spread suspected.
        • Reconstruction (if planned): Immediate (implants or flaps) or delayed.
      • Closure: Sutures in layers; skin closed with sutures or staples; drains placed to prevent fluid buildup.
    • Intraoperative Tools:
      • Blue dye/radioisotope: Identifies sentinel nodes.
      • Electrocautery: Controls bleeding.
      • Drains: Collect fluid post-op.
  • After Surgery:
    • Hospital stay: 1–3 days (longer with reconstruction).
    • Care: Arm exercises to prevent stiffness; drains removed in 5–10 days; avoid pressure on chest.
    • Pain management: Moderate pain for 3–7 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., paracetamol).
    • Instructions: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; wear compression sleeve if lymphedema risk.

Recovery After Mastectomy

  1. Hospital Stay: 1–3 days (longer with reconstruction).
  2. Post-Surgery Care:
    • Pain/Swelling: Moderate pain for 3–7 days; swelling resolves in 2–3 weeks.
    • Activity: Avoid heavy lifting or arm strain for 4–6 weeks; light activities in 1–2 weeks.
    • Drains/Incision: Drains removed in 5–10 days; sutures removed in 10–14 days; scar fades in 6–12 months.
    • Arm mobility: Physiotherapy to prevent stiffness; full range of motion in 4–6 weeks.
    • Adjuvant therapy: Chemotherapy or radiation starts 4–6 weeks post-op if needed.
  3. Follow-Up:
    • Visits at 1 week (drain removal), 1 month, and every 3–6 months for 5 years (recurrence risk).
    • Mammogram (opposite breast): Annually to monitor.

Most resume normal activities in 4–6 weeks; full recovery takes 2–3 months (longer with reconstruction or adjuvant therapy). Success rate: 5-year survival for early-stage breast cancer is 85–90%; local recurrence rate is 3–5% with proper adjuvant therapy.

Risks and Complications

  • Surgical Risks:
    • Bleeding (1–3%): Hematoma at site; may need drainage.
    • Infection (2–5%): At incision site; treated with antibiotics.
    • Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
  • Post-Surgery:
    • Seroma (5–10%): Fluid collection under skin; may need aspiration.
    • Lymphedema (10–20%, with ALND): Arm swelling; managed with compression and physiotherapy.
    • Shoulder stiffness (5–10%): From lymph node removal; improves with exercises.
    • Phantom breast pain (5–10%): Sensation of pain in removed breast; usually temporary.
  • Long-Term:
    • Recurrence (3–5%): At chest wall; reduced with adjuvant therapy; needs regular follow-up.
    • Psychological impact (10–20%): Body image concerns; counseling or reconstruction helps.

Report fever, severe swelling, redness, or arm swelling promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I avoid mastectomy?

Yes, if early: Lumpectomy with radiation (as you asked earlier); mastectomy needed for extensive cancer or patient preference.

Is mastectomy painful?

Moderate pain for 3–7 days, managed with medication; resolves in 2–3 weeks.

How soon can I resume normal activities?

Light activities: 1–2 weeks; full recovery: 2–3 months; avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks.

Is mastectomy covered by insurance in India?

Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.

Signs of complications?

Fever, severe swelling, redness, or arm swelling.

Can I have reconstruction after mastectomy?

Yes: Immediate or delayed; options include implants or flap surgery (as you asked earlier).

Lifestyle changes post-surgery?

Arm exercises, wear compression sleeve (if lymphedema risk), attend follow-ups, and consider counseling for body image.

Conclusion

Mastectomy is a safe and effective procedure for treating breast cancer, with good outcomes when followed by appropriate adjuvant therapy. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, Tata Memorial) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult a surgical oncologist for personalized guidance.

Looking for Best Hospitals for Mastectomy

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we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)

  • click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.

Disclaimer

City Minimum Price (₹) Maximum Price (₹)
Agra
80,000
2,00,000
Ahmedabad
1,00,000
2,50,000
Ajmer
80,000
2,00,000
Aligarh
80,000
2,00,000
Allahabad
80,000
2,00,000
Amritsar
90,000
2,25,000
Aurangabad
90,000
2,25,000
Bangalore
1,00,000
2,50,000
Bareilly
80,000
2,00,000
Belgaum
90,000
2,25,000
Bhopal
90,000
2,25,000
Bhubaneswar
90,000
2,25,000
Bikaner
80,000
2,00,000
Chandigarh
1,00,000
2,50,000
Chennai
1,00,000
2,50,000
Coimbatore
1,00,000
2,50,000
Dehradun
90,000
2,25,000
Delhi
1,00,000
2,50,000
Dhanbad
80,000
2,00,000
Durgapur
80,000
2,00,000
Faridabad
1,00,000
2,50,000
Ghaziabad
1,00,000
2,50,000
Gorakhpur
80,000
2,00,000
Guntur
90,000
2,25,000
Gurgaon
1,00,000
2,50,000
Guwahati
90,000
2,25,000
Gwalior
80,000
2,00,000
Hyderabad
1,00,000
2,50,000
Indore
90,000
2,25,000
Jabalpur
80,000
2,00,000
Jaipur
1,00,000
2,50,000
Jalandhar
90,000
2,25,000
Jamshedpur
90,000
2,25,000
Jodhpur
80,000
2,00,000
Kanpur
80,000
2,00,000
Kochi
1,00,000
2,50,000
Kolkata
1,00,000
2,50,000
Kollam
90,000
2,25,000
Lucknow
90,000
2,25,000
Ludhiana
1,00,000
2,50,000
Madurai
90,000
2,25,000
Mangalore
90,000
2,25,000
Meerut
80,000
2,00,000
Moradabad
80,000
2,00,000
Mumbai
1,00,000
2,50,000
Mysore
1,00,000
2,50,000
Nagpur
90,000
2,25,000
Nashik
90,000
2,25,000
Navi Mumbai
1,00,000
2,50,000
Noida
1,00,000
2,50,000
Patna
80,000
2,00,000
Pune
1,00,000
2,50,000
Raipur
90,000
2,25,000
Rajkot
90,000
2,25,000
Ranchi
80,000
2,00,000
Surat
1,00,000
2,50,000
Thane
1,00,000
2,50,000
Vadodara
90,000
2,25,000
Varanasi
80,000
2,00,000
Visakhapatnam
90,000
2,25,000

This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.

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