OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* To compare post-operative pain after tumescent vs standard mastectomy in women with stage I-III breast cancer.
Secondary
* To compare the total time of operation from incision to completion of wound closure.
* To compare the time of operation from first incision to completion of skin flaps.
* To compare the total estimated blood loss.
* To compare the number of days the Jackson-Pratt drain is left in place under skin flaps with wound drainage \> 30 mL/24 hours.
* To compare the incidence of wound complications such as skin necrosis, hematoma, cellulitis, abscess, and seroma between groups.
OUTLINE: Patients are grouped according to which surgeon provided their evaluation and treatment recommendations.
* Group 1: Patients undergo standard mastectomy.
* Group 2: Patients undergo tumescent mastectomy. All patients receive standardized post-operative pain management comprising morphine sulfate for analgesia or an equivalent dose of hydromorphone hydrochloride for 24 hours following surgery. Patients then receive 1-2 oral acetaminophen/oxycodone hydrochloride combination tablets (or a comparable amount of another narcotic/acetaminophen combination) every 6 hours as needed. Pain is assessed using the Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ).