The first reaction for most women who just find out of being diagnosed with breast cancer is shock. Some of these individuals are very healthy which makes it very hard to believe. To be sure, most patients get a second opinion which just confirms the former diagnosis.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer does mean the end of the world. Recent advances in medical technology have been able to make people live longer. This could mean a woman could continue to live with both breasts intact or losing one.

Most women undergo surgery. This is done to remove the cancer cells from the woman’s breast. The type of surgery that the patient will undergo will depend on the stage where the cancer was detected.

If it has been detected in its early stages, the patient can be qualified for breast conservation therapy or BCT. Women who are eligible for BCT do not need any reconstruction once the treatment has been completed.

This begins with a lumpectomy to remove the tumor without removing the breast. Should a larger part of the breast needs to be removed; a partial or segmental mastectomy needs to be done. In both cases, radiation therapy needs to be conducted to ensure that all the cancer cells have been removed.

If the breast cancer has been detected in an advanced stage, the patient has to undergo a radical mastectomy. This means the woman will lose the breast and the lymph nodes under the arm.