Perioperative management of breast cancer surgery

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common invasive cancer affecting women worldwide. Therefore, early prevention and detection by self-breast examination (SBE) remains a strong recommendation by the American Cancer Society. Upon diagnosing, additional tests are performed to identify the stage and appropriate treatments. Survival rate of BC depends on the age and time of diagnosis, tumor size at advanced stage, and positive lymph node. Several risk factors include female sex, obesity, sedentary activities, drinking alcohol, hormone replacement during menopause, ionizing radiation, early age of first menstruation and old age. Perioperative management will vary based on preexisting conditions/comorbidities of each patient. Ongoing global research efforts and investigations focus into the causes, treatment of metastatic BC, risk reduction techniques, management, new laboratory and imaging tests, and supportive care of the patient/survivor. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways for BC surgery and interprofessional collaboration are critical to address the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of the patient effectively. As new therapies and more aggressive treatment measures are adopted for BC, we must be cognizant of the particular complications in this population and remain vigilant in our efforts to minimize the risk.