Overview

Breast cancer surgery is a key component of breast cancer treatment that involves removing the cancer with an operation. Breast cancer surgery may be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and radiation therapy.

For people with a very high risk of breast cancer, breast cancer surgery may be an option to reduce the risk of future breast cancer.

Breast cancer surgery includes different procedures, such as:

• Surgery to remove the entire breast (mastectomy)
• Surgery to remove a portion of the breast tissue (lumpectomy)
• Surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes
• Surgery to reconstruct a breast after mastectomy

Which breast cancer operation is best for you depends on the size and stage of your cancer, your other treatment options, and your goals and preferences.