Understanding Your Operation

The type of operation that you will need depends on the stage of your cancer.

The two options for breast surgery are:

• Breast-conserving surgery. This means removing the tumor and all margins of the tissue around it that might have cancer cells. The entire breast is not removed.
• Mastectomy. This is the surgical removal of all the breast tissue in one or both breasts. 

Important things to consider about breast cancer treatment:

• Your current health status
• Breast size compared to tumor size
• The tumor's location, size, and lymph node involvement
• Presence of a BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, or other gene mutation
• Your desire for breast reconstruction
• Your support system
• Possible side effects of a lymph node biopsy or removal. These may include swelling, numbness, change in sensation, and/or lymphedema.
• Possible radiation-related side effects. These may include a change in skin texture, color, shape, or size.

Reasons why breast-conserving surgery may not be an option:

• A large tumor in a small breast that might affect the cosmetic result
• The tumor extend beyond the margins
• You are unable or do not want to follow up with radiation therapy
• You would prefer to have a mastectomy