The goal of breast cancer surgery is to remove the tumor itself and a portion of surrounding tissue while conserving as much of the breast as possible. Breast cancer surgery methods differ in the amount of breast tissue that is taken out with the tumor. That depends on the tumor location, how far it’s spread, and your personal feelings. The surgeon also removes some lymph nodes under the arm so they can be tested for cancer cells. This will help your doctor plan your treatment after surgery.
People with a high risk of breast cancer based on a strong family history of the disease, certain noncancerous breast biopsy results or a gene mutation might consider preventive (prophylactic) mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction as an option to prevent breast cancer.
Breast cancers that are very large or have spread to several lymph nodes are often treated first with chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy to shrink the tumor and make surgery more successful. These cancers may be removed using mastectomy or lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy.
