Page "Mastectomy" Paragraph 14

* Simple mastectomy ( or " total mastectomy "): In this procedure, the entire breast tissue is removed, but axillary contents are undisturbed.

Sometimes the " sentinel lymph node "-- that is, the first axillary lymph node that the metastasizing cancer cells would be expected to drain into — is removed.

This surgery is sometimes done bilaterally ( on both breasts ) on patients who wish to undergo mastectomy as a cancer-preventative measure.

Patients who undergo simple mastectomy can usually leave the hospital after a brief stay.

Frequently, a drainage tube is inserted during surgery in their chest and attached to a small suction device to remove subcutaneous fluid.

These are usually removed several days after surgery as drainage decrease to less than 20-30 ml per day.