Depending on how the original surgery was done, they may not even use a
muscle. Most women do not get a radical mastectomy now - that involved
removing the pectoral (chest) muscles. Now a modified radical is done - the
muscles remain. In a modified radical, reconstruction moves a flap of skin
and fat OR uses tissue expanders to create more skin.
In radical mastectomy, reconstruction uses the latissimus dorsi, not the
abdominal muscles.
John
John J. Messmer, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Family & Community Medicine
Penn State College of Medicine
> I have a singer friend who has breast cancer. She is
> going to have a mastectomy and is considering
> reconstructive surgery. However, for the
> reconstruction they use muscle from the abdominal
> area. For you doctors, or anyone who knows someone who
> has been through this, could this affect her singing?
> Are the abdominal muscle(s) they use also used in
> singing?
>
> Jennifer
>
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