Pectoralis Major Fascia

frywoman

Someone posted a question at the end of another thread asking for an explanation about the removal of the fascia membrane during mastectomy but I don't remember where that was. I found this information at the following link:http://www.lbbc.org/data/transcript-file/LBBCdcislcis06.pdf

"There are times when we do a mastectomy and the pathologist says that there was DCIS very, very close to the chest wall. If the surgeon has removed the breast tissue completely ... and the way we judge is that there is a tenacious fascia, which is a cellophane-like covering that separates the muscle from the breast. That's called the pectoralis major fascia. If the surgeon knows that he has taken the pectoralis major fascia and DCIS was close to a deep margin, I would not use radiation therapy. That is not true if it's invasive carcinoma. [For] invasive carcinoma, which can reach out and invade the muscle, I would recommend radiation therapy. You have to go back and find out from your surgeon, who's the best one to tell you this, about your mastectomy. [Ask your surgeon,] Did you take this fascial covering off of my muscle? Are you sure you got all the breast tissue out? Getting second opinions, having other people look, is always a good idea."

I thought this was a pretty informative transcript and having a 1mm margin close to the chest wall myself, found some relief in knowing that my surgeon had removed that.

Hooray for the fascia membrane.

Mantra

I was the one who posted the orginal question. Thanks so much for remembering and for posting this info.