Breast Cancer Surgery

What is breast conserving surgery?

Breast conserving surgery, also called lumpectomy or wide local excision, involves removal of the tumour with a rim of normal tissue. There are a variety of techniques that can be used to reshape the breast and preserve its appearance after the tumour is removed, known as oncoplastic breast surgery.

Breast conserving surgery is recommended if the cancer is small compared to the size of your breast. It is almost always combined with radiotherapy.

Research has shown that breast conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy is as effective as mastectomy in treating early breast cancer. The chance of the cancer coming back in another part of the body is the same with either type of surgery.