A lumpectomy removes a tumor and a margin of normal breast tissue around the tumor. Typically, lumpectomies are performed for early-stage breast cancer, or if the tumor is small in size compared to the size of your breast. Some of your lymph nodes may also be removed at the same operation to obtain the proper staging of your tumor.
A lumpectomy is sometimes also referred to as:
- Breast-conserving surgery
- Segmental mastectomy
- Partial mastectomy
- Wide local excision
You and your surgeon will create a treatment plan together. Your surgeon will perform your surgery to remove the cancer. Some surgeons may also complete procedures to help diagnose cancer, such as a biopsy.
At GenesisCare, we have general surgeons, surgical oncologists and breast surgeons who perform lumpectomies. Our surgeons are all board certified, which means that they have been specially trained in surgical cancer care according to defined national criteria for certification and they continuously maintain the highest quality standards through participation in continuing medical education. This provides them with training on the latest treatment techniques and advances. Some have also completed extra training called a fellowship, which is additional specialized training in the surgical management of breast cancer patients.
During a lumpectomy, your surgeon will make an incision on your breast and remove the tumor with a small rim of breast tissue surrounding the tumor with a goal to remove the entire tumor. The rim of the tissue, also called the margin, will be studied by a pathologist in a lab following surgery.
If the margin is negative, there is no visible cancer on the rim or edges of what was removed, and the tumor was completely removed. Additional surgery is most likely not needed.
If there is cancer on the rim, also known as positive margins, additional surgery may be required.
The nipple and areola are usually left in place during a lumpectomy. An exception to this is when the nipple or tissue underneath it is involved by the cancer. In this case, a central lumpectomy is performed, which involves the removal of the nipple-areolar complex.
Your care team will advise you on the appropriate aftercare instructions after surgery. In most instances, you can go home the same day after most surgical procedures, but your surgeon will discuss whether or not you need to be in the hospital overnight after your operation.
Typically, your surgeon will want to meet with you within one to two weeks after surgery to check on the incision site, make sure you are healing well and discuss any new post-operative instructions. During this appointment, your surgeon will discuss your final pathology report in detail, including if the margins were positive or negative and the results of any lymph node sampling. Whether visits with other cancer doctors are needed, as well as if additional testing is recommended (genomic testing of the tumor that was removed), will also be discussed.
In general, our surgeons will follow you for five years or more after your surgery, even if you continue treatment with other specialties, to help address any concerns and watch for any signs of recurrence.
Following your post-operative appointment, your surgeon will help coordinate with other physicians who specialize in medical oncology and radiation oncology to obtain an opinion about those options and determine if additional therapy is needed for your individual situation. In some areas, your unique case may be discussed at a group meeting of cancer doctors called a tumor board to determine next steps and whether additional testing or treatments are needed.
Typically, breast cancer surgery is covered by insurers. However, coverage varies by insurance carrier and plan. Contact your insurance carrier to learn more about your individual coverage.