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 if they show signs of cancer.
There are two basic types of surgery to remove breast cancer: lumpectomy (also called breast conserving surgery) and mastectomy. In lumpectomy, only the tumor and some surrounding tissue are removed. With mastectomy, the entire breast is removed. Almost all women who have lumpectomy will have radiation therapy after surgery. Some women who have mastectomy may also be advised to get radiation treatment. Figure 5.1 shows each type of surgery.
Although the exact treatment for breast cancer varies from person to person, several organizations have treatment guidelines to help ensure quality care. These guidelines are based on the latest research, and some are available online. 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.
Some people may think that surgery causes breast cancer to spread, but it does not. Surgery removes all of or as much of the cancer as possible. The therapies that follow surgery treat any cancer that remains in the body after surgery.
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Lumpectomy (also called breast conserving surgery and wide excision). In lumpectomy, the surgeon removes the breast tumor and some normal tissue around it. During the surgery, lymph nodes may also be removed from the armpit (axillary nodes).
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Mastectomy. In a mastectomy, the surgeon removes the entire breast and may also remove some of the lymph nodes from the armpit. Women who choose to have breast reconstruction can have it done at the same time as the mastectomy or later.
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Illustrations adapted from What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer (online). National Cancer Institute, 1999.
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If you are facing breast cancer surgery, you may have to choose between having lumpectomy plus radiation therapy and having a mastectomy. The following sections describe each type of surgery and offer information that can help you choose the surgery that is right for you.
Updated 02/01/10
