During your consultation about breast surgery, your surgeon will recommend either a lumpectomy or mastectomy procedure based on your hereditary risk of cancer, the size and location of your tumor, your breast size, breast shape, or breast density.
Mastectomy
In a mastectomy procedure, your surgeon will remove all of your breast tissue. A mastectomy is typically recommended for:
- Women who have large tumors or multiple tumors in their breast that must be removed
- Women with a hereditary risk of cancer
Lumpectomy
In a lumpectomy procedure, your surgeon will remove a tumor and a small portion of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor (margin), but will save the majority of your breast. A lumpectomy is typically recommended for women who have a small tumor.
Lumpectomy
In a lumpectomy procedure, your surgeon will remove a tumor and a small portion of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor (margin), but will save the majority of your breast. A lumpectomy is typically recommended for women who have a small tumor.
Hidden Scar breast cancer surgery
Hidden Scar surgery is an advanced approach to removing breast cancer or your risk of breast cancer. Surgeons can use Hidden Scar surgery in either a mastectomy or lumpectomy procedure. With a Hidden Scar procedure, your incision is placed in a location that is hard to see, so your scar is not visible when it heals. This technique is effective in treating the breast cancer as effectively as past traditional breast cancer surgery.
Breast cancer resources | Breast cancer surgery
It is important to find breast cancer support and breast cancer resources from trusted breast cancer organizations. And, it is equally important to know which questions to ask your breast surgeon.
Patient stories
Watch real patient stories of breast cancer survivors to hear how the lives of these women and their families were impacted by the journey of breast cancer.
Breast cancer surgery recovery
It’s important to prepare for your breast cancer surgery recovery. Learn more about what to expect during recovery after surgery.