Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer will have some type of surgery. Breast cancer surgery aims to remove the tumor and some of the surrounding healthy tissue.
Different surgeries remove different amounts of breast tissue:
- Lumpectomy removes only the part of the breast containing the cancer, as well as some surrounding normal tissue. This surgery is usually followed by radiation therapy.
- Partial mastectomy removes more tissue than with a lumpectomy. This surgery is usually followed by radiation therapy.
- Mastectomy removes the breast entirely. The breast can be reconstructed at the same time as surgery or during a later procedure.
If you have early-stage cancer, you will likely be able to choose your procedure, with the help of your doctor.