Breast reconstruction after mastectomy. What the family physician should know.
The most common female malignancy, cancer of the breast, affects one in 15 women in Australia. A significant number of those who have had a mastectomy seek the advice of their general practitioner about breast reconstruction. The counsel of the past--that they should think themselves fortunate to have survived the mastectomy and 'leave well enough alone'--is no longer valid. This article discusses the need for reconstruction, its worth and the procedures available.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D013524:Surgical Flaps