On the official website of singer Anastacia, the same message is posted since February 27, 2013: “Unfortunately, Anastacia was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time after successfully defeating her battle with the disease in 2003. As a result, she was forced to cancel all shows, tours and trips from now until further notice. ” October 1 is on his Facebook page that the singer preferred to communicate with her fans, announcing to them that she was in the last stage of remission after having undergone a double mastectomy. “It’s been an intense time but I feel good and ready to tackle the next chapter,” she says. This news can only recall the announcement of actress Angelina Jolie who, last May, also explained have had a preventive double mastectomy.
These recent declarations are a reminder of the importance of this operation, which is carried out more and more often. In France, breast cancer is the most common cancer, with around 52,500 new cases estimated in 2010, or more than a third (34%) of all new cases of female cancer, according to figures from the Institute of Health and Medical Research.
But what exactly does this surgical act consist of? Essentially performed in the case of breast cancer, mastectomy can be total (enlarged or simple) or partial (simple removal of the tumor). Mastectomies are performed under general anesthesia and require hospitalization for a few days, indicates the medical Larousse. Breast reconstruction sometimes takes place at the same time as its removal, either with the help of a prosthesis or through reconstruction techniques using the adjacent muscles. “The dissection of lymph nodes in the armpit can lead to edema of the arm. It is therefore desirable to spare, in the months following the operation, the member corresponding to the operated breast”, adds Larousse.
The Association “Breast cancer, let’s talk about it” has posted on its website (http://www.cancerdusein.org), specific advice for people preparing to have a mastectomy: “Each woman has her own idea of what her breast should be like and what she expects from the procedure. The plastic surgeon’s experience that you have chosen obviously matters a lot. It is important that you be able to express your wishes and expectations to this practitioner. He will be able to advise you according to the type of mastectomy performed, your post-operative treatment, the state of your skin and muscles. “
