Breast Cancer Surgeries
| Lumpectomy |
The removal of only the breast lump and some normal tissue around it
| Partial (segmental) Mastectomy |
The removal of more of the breast tissue than with a lumpectomy
| Simple or Total Mastectomy |
Removal of the entire breast, but not the lymph nodes from under the arm or muscle tissue from beneath the breast
| Modified Radical Mastectomy |
Removal of the entire breast and some of the lymph nodes under the arm
| Radical Mastectomy |
Removal of the entire breast, lymph nodes, and chest wall muscles under the breast
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Most women with breast cancer undergo some type of surgery to remove the primary tumor. Common breast cancer surgeries described by the American Cancer Society include the following: A lumpectomy is a procedure that involves the removal of only the breast lump and some normal tissue around it. A partial mastectomy is the surgery that involves the removal of more of the breast tissue than with the lumpectomy. A simple or total mastectomy is an operation that involves the removal of the entire breast but not the lymph nodes from under the arm or muscle tissue from behind the breast. A modified radical mastectomy is the surgery that involves the removal of the entire breast and some of the lymph nodes under the arm. This is the most common breast cancer surgery. A radical mastectomy is the operation that involves the removal of the entire breast, lymph nodes, and chest wall muscles under the breast. Because the modified radical mastectomy has proven to be just as effective, with less disfigurement and fewer side effects, radical mastectomy is rarely done now. Surgery may also be combined with other treatment such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation therapy.