Breast reconstruction. View of the breasts of a 58 year old woman showing her reconstructed breast two months after a mastectomy operation to treat breast cancer. This is an example of a flap reconstruction,where skin from a adjacent area is used to cover a wound. Here,the removal of the tumour left the breast mis-shapen,and the reconstruction was performed for cosmetic reasons. Total mastectomies,removal of the entire breast,are rarely necessary,and here the tumour alone was excised from the breast. Breast cancer can be highly malignant,and regular examination of the breasts is recommended,as the earlier the cancer is diagnosed,the better the prognosis |