Breast Surgery

Overview

Breast surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer and may be an important part of your cancer treatment plan. Nearly all women with breast cancer will undergo some kind of surgery as part of their treatment and/or diagnosis. The extent of surgery for breast cancer may range from removal of only a small piece of breast tissue to removing one or both breasts, including underarm (axillary) lymph nodes. The purpose of surgery in the management of breast cancer is to:

• Obtain a tissue sample for determining an accurate diagnosis.
• Determine the stage of the cancer and whether additional treatment is necessary.
• Treat the cancer locally.

Surgery is local therapy that can remove cancer cells in or near the breast but cannot treat breast cancer cells that have spread to other locations in the body. Cancer cells that have spread are called micrometastases and additional systemic treatment using chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy is required to treat these areas of cancer. The information obtained during surgery and from other tests determines the likelihood that the cancer has spread and whether additional systemic treatment is necessary. 

Your physician can help you determine whether you need surgery and, if so, what type. The two primary types of breast cancer surgery include breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy. Following a mastectomy, there are surgical options to reconstruct the breast. Breast reconstruction aims to restore the tissue to a normal appearance.

In some cases, your physician may recommend surgically removing one or more of your lymph nodes to determine if the breast cancer has spread. The two primary lymph node surgeries are sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection.

Side Effects of Breast Surgery

While recovering from breast surgery, women may experience the following side effects:

• Pain and tenderness
• Swelling at surgery site
• Bruising
• Seroma, collection of fluids under the surface of skin
• Limited arm or shoulder movement
• Numbness in chest or upper arm
• Nerve pain in chest, armpit or arm
• Bleeding at surgery site
• Infection at surgery site

Your breast surgeon will talk with you about ways to minimize side effects.

Surgical Procedures

The following is a general overview of the role of surgery in the management of breast cancer. Surgery may be the primary treatment for some breast cancers, but for many women, multi-modality treatment, which utilizes two or more treatment techniques, is increasingly recognized as the best approach for improving a patient’s chance of cure or prolonging survival. In some cases, participation in a clinical trial utilizing new, innovative therapies may provide the most promising treatment. Circumstances unique to each patient’s situation may influence how these general treatment principles are applied. The potential benefits of multi-modality care, participation in a clinical trial, or standard treatment must be carefully balanced with the potential risks. The information on this website is intended to help educate patients about their treatment options and to facilitate a mutual or shared decision-making process with their treating cancer physician.

The type of surgery that a patient with breast cancer undergoes depends largely on the size and location of the cancer, the breast size, feasibility of breast reconstruction, and how important breast preservation is to the patient.

Why Choose Texas Breast Specialists

Our team of breast care professionals is dedicated to your health and well-being. When you come to us for care, you’ll find: