What is a lumpectomy?
A lumpectomy, also called breast-conserving surgery, is a surgery performed to remove breast cancer or otherwise abnormal breast tissue. It is one option for treating several types and stages of breast cancer. It is called breast-conserving surgery because it does not involve removing the entire breast. Instead, surgeons remove only the cancerous growth in the breast and a small margin of healthy breast tissue surrounding the tumor. Doctors do this to ensure that all the abnormal cells are removed.
Lumpectomy can help confirm a diagnosis of breast cancer or can rule it out. It is also called an excisional biopsy because a portion of breast tissue is cut out of the breast and later evaluated to determine whether it’s cancer and, if so, what type of cancer it is.
Lumpectomy is frequently used to treat early stage breast cancer – before cancer has moved to the lymph nodes. Doctors often follow lumpectomy with radiation therapy directed at the breast tissue to help reduce the chances of cancer recurrence.
Why do doctors perform a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy?
A lumpectomy can be effective at removing cancer and other abnormal tissue while still keeping the appearance of the breast. There are some studies that show a lumpectomy is as effective at treating breast cancer as mastectomy for women who have early stage breast cancer.
You may not be able to have a lumpectomy if you:
- Have a history of scleroderma because you may have difficulty healing after surgery
- Have a condition that can get worse during radiation therapy
- Have two or more tumors in different areas of the breast and those tumors can’t be removed with a single lumpectomy
- Have had radiation treatment of the breast area in the past
- Have breast cancer that has spread throughout your breast and skin
- Have small breasts but a large tumor
- Don’t have access to or the ability to receive radiation therapy
If you and your doctor decide that lumpectomy is the right procedure for you, there’s still a chance you may need to have a mastectomy. If the surgeon cannot remove all of the tumor and get a clean margin of healthy tissue during the lumpectomy procedure, he or she will have to remove the entire breast.
What are the risks of a lumpectomy?
The risks of lumpectomy are similar to those of most surgical procedures, including:
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Infection
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Scar formation around the surgery site
- Change in the shape, size, or appearance of your breast
What’s the recovery process like for a lumpectomy?
A lumpectomy requires general anesthesia. Just after surgery, you will go to a recovery room where nurses and doctors can monitor how you’re doing by checking your vital signs and working to make you comfortable. You may receive additional pain relieving medications.
Once you go home, you will have to take it easy for at least a week. Your doctor will let you know when you can resume normal activities. You will also receive post-surgery instructions before you leave the hospital. These instructions will tell you things like how to care for your surgical wound, what your physical limitations are, and when you should call the doctor.
After surgery, you may need additional treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy. Many people also benefit from counseling and support groups to help them get through the emotional and physical effects of surgery. Beaumont’s survivorship program is an excellent resource for optimizing health and healing of the mind, body and spirit after a cancer diagnosis.
Breast reconstruction
Depending on how much tissue is removed during your lumpectomy, you may also want to have breast reconstruction surgery to help restore the look and feel of your breasts. If you are interested in breast reconstruction, talk to your breast surgeon and ask if it’s an option for you. If he or she says it’s safe, your next step is to make an appointment with a reconstructive surgeon who can talk about your options for breast reconstruction.
Beaumont’s Comprehensive Breast Care Program
The Comprehensive Breast Care Program at Beaumont Hospitals integrates cancer prevention, early detection, rapid diagnosis, leading-edge therapies, and several support, education, and community-support programs. For an expedited and comprehensive breast evaluation, call 888-924-9460.