Breast Health

There are two main types of surgery to remove breast cancer:

Breast-conserving surgery (also called a lumpectomy, quadrantectomy, partial mastectomy, or segmental mastectomy) is a surgery in which only the part of the breast containing the cancer is removed. The goal is to remove the cancer as well as some surrounding normal tissue.

Mastectomy is a surgery in which the entire breast is removed, including all of the breast tissue and sometimes other nearby tissues.

Surgery to Remove Nearby Lymph Nodes

To find out if the breast cancer has spread to underarm (axillary) lymph nodes, one or more of these lymph nodes will be removed and looked at in the lab.

The two main types of surgery to remove lymph nodes are:

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a procedure in which the surgeon removes only the lymph node(s) under the arm where the cancer would likely spread first.

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is a procedure in which the surgeon removes many (usually less than 20) underarm lymph nodes.

Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

Breast augmentation, in which saline or gel implants increase breast size
Breast correction to address breast asymmetry
Breast reduction to decrease the overall size of the breasts when they are disproportionate to body structure
Breast lifts to restore fullness to the breasts
Breast reconstruction to reconstruct the breast after it has been removed or disfigured.
These procedures can improve your self-image, address back and neck pain, or help you feel more comfortable following your breast cancer treatment.