Surgery

The goal of breast cancer surgery is to remove the entire tumor from the breast. Some of the lymph nodes from the armpit (axillary nodes) may also be removed and checked to see if they contain cancer.

Surgery is designed to remove all of the cancer (or as much of the cancer as possible) from the breast. Surgery near the tumor does not in any way spread the cancer. It is a myth that exposing breast cancer to air during surgery or cutting through the cancer might cause it to spread.

Lumpectomy and mastectomy

There are two basic types of surgery to remove breast cancer:

• Lumpectomy (also called breast conserving surgery or wide excision)
• Mastectomy  

Figure 5.1 shows each type of surgery.

With lumpectomy, the tumor and some normal tissue surrounding the tumor are removed, but the rest of the breast remains intact. With mastectomy, the entire breast is removed.

Almost all women who have lumpectomy will have radiation therapy to the breast after surgery. Some women who have mastectomy may also have radiation treatment.   

Treatment guidelines

Although the exact treatment for breast cancer varies from person to person, treatment guidelines help ensure quality care. These guidelines are based on the latest research and the consensus of experts. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and National Comprehensive Care Network (NCCN) are two respected organizations that regularly update and post their guidelines online. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) also has overviews of treatment options.

Deciding between lumpectomy and mastectomy

If you are facing breast cancer surgery, you may have a choice between a lumpectomy plus radiation therapy, or a mastectomy. The next sections describe each type of surgery and offer information that can help you choose which surgery is right for you. Also, our interactive treatment navigation tool for newly diagnosed patients can help you explore the different types of treatments you may have.

Updated 04/17/12