I CAN. WE WILL.

Surgery

Most women with breast cancer will undergo surgery as part of their treatment plan. Your doctor will explain what type of surgery will be most suited for you, based on your breast cancer features and your medical history, and to some extent, your preferences. It’s important that you discuss the options with your doctor and work together in choosing the right procedure for you.¹

Types of breast cancer surgery include:¹

Lumpectomy

A surgery to remove the cancer as well as some surrounding normal tissue. Only the part of the breast containing the cancer is removed.

Mastectomy

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

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) or
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND)

A surgery to check if the cancer has spread to underarm (axillary) lymph nodes. This helps determine the stage of the cancer. Lymph nodes may be removed either as part of the surgery to remove the breast cancer or as a separate operation.

Breast Reconstruction

A surgery to restore the breast’s shape after the cancer has been removed. Reconstructive surgery may be done at the same time as the breast cancer surgery (immediate reconstruction) or at a later time (delayed reconstruction).

If maintaining your breast shape and size is important to you, talk to your surgeon about reconstruction options before you have cancer surgery so it can be included in your treatment plan.