A lumpectomy is a common surgery to treat breast cancer. Often referred to as a partial mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery, a lumpectomy involves removing only the cancerous tissue while leaving behind healthy breast tissue.
It’s a great treatment option for many people diagnosed with certain types of early-stage breast cancers. It can be less invasive than other breast cancer surgeries but provide similar successful outcomes, especially when performed by breast cancer surgeons who specialize in lumpectomies and other surgical treatments.
The surgeons at the OSUCCC – James perform hundreds of lumpectomies every year, giving them unparalleled expertise when it comes to the surgery. Our breast cancer specialists will walk with you every step of the way of deciding whether a lumpectomy is the proper treatment for you and what to expect during it, including lumpectomy recovery time.
What is a lumpectomy?
A lumpectomy is a surgery to remove cancerous tissue or other abnormal tissue from the breast. A small amount of healthy nearby tissue is also typically extracted to ensure all the cancer is gone. It’s called breast-conserving surgery because it spares breast tissue and sensation.
Usually, your doctor will recommend radiation therapy following the surgery to prevent cancer recurrence.
A lumpectomy versus a mastectomy
During a lumpectomy only a portion of the breast — the cancerous tissue — is removed. During a mastectomy, all of the breast is removed.
According to research studies, a lumpectomy is as effective at treating early stages of breast cancer as a mastectomy. Our experts will help inform your decision in choosing whether a lumpectomy or mastectomy is necessary to treat your breast cancer.
Who is a candidate for a lumpectomy?
There are several factors that will make you a good candidate for a lumpectomy, including the type of cancer you have, its stage and your personal situation.
A lumpectomy might be recommended if:
- Your cancer is newly diagnosed and in the early stages.
- The tumor is small relative to breast size and contained to one area.
- You’re able to commit to doing radiation for a few weeks following surgery.
- You want to preserve breast tissue and avoid the more involved mastectomy surgery.
Several factors also might prevent you from being a good candidate for a lumpectomy, even if you meet some of the above criteria.
A lumpectomy isn’t recommended if:
- You’ve had previous radiation in the same location or nearby.
- You’re pregnant and can’t undergo radiation.
- You’ve been diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.
- You have certain breast cancer gene mutations.
- The tumor is too big, or the cancer has spread to more than one location.
- Your breasts are on the smaller side, especially relative to the tumor size.
How is a lumpectomy performed?
A lumpectomy is typically an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home the same day, and performed while you’re under general anesthesia.
During the procedure, your surgeon will make an incision at the tumor site and remove the cancer. They’ll also remove a rim of nearby healthy tissue, called the margin, to test for cancerous cells.
Sentinel lymph nodes are also typically removed for a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see if the cancer has spread and to stage the cancer. Sometimes plastic surgery reconstruction is done on the breast at the end of a lumpectomy.
When finished, your surgeon will close the incisions using stitches, which will dissolve on their own, and pay close attention to preserving the look of your breast.
Preparing for a lumpectomy
There are some important steps or procedures that might occur ahead of your lumpectomy.
Chemotherapy before a lumpectomy
Sometimes a cancer-fighting medication called chemotherapy is recommended ahead of surgery to shrink the tumor to make a lumpectomy manageable and successful. This medication is given orally or intravenously. It’s known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy since it is given before the main cancer treatment — the lumpectomy.
Localization procedure
Using a needle and with the help of imaging, a radiologist places a marker into the tumor to mark the exact location of the tumor. There are various ways to mark the tumor, including a wire or radioactive seed. These are removed at the time of the surgery. This allows your surgeon to find the cancerous area during surgery.
This can be done up to a week before the lumpectomy but is sometimes done right before the surgery.
What to expect during a lumpectomy?
Most people are under general anesthesia, meaning you’ll be asleep, while undergoing a lumpectomy. Typically, the surgery takes between 60 and 90 minutes, but it can be longer if you’re also having a sentinel lymph node biopsy or any plastic reconstruction surgery (an oncoplastic lumpectomy) at the same time.
Recovery from a lumpectomy
You’ll typically be able to go home the same day as your surgery. Lumpectomy recovery can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on how extensive your surgery was and how your body heals.
Some steps you can take to make your recovery a bit easier include:
- Manage pain with medication – You may receive a prescription for a pain medication from your doctor. Use it if needed. Some people can manage their pain simply with over-the-counter pain medications, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Care for incision site – To prevent infection, make sure your incision site is bandaged correctly and cleaned regularly.
- Ice breast – Using ice can help curb swelling and pain.
- Exercise arm – While you should rest and refrain from physical activity for at least a few days following surgery, there are a few simple arm exercises recommended to prevent arm and shoulder stiffness. Moving around a little each day helps with recovery.
- Rest – Taking it easy for a few days after your surgery can make the recovery process easier.
Treatment after a lumpectomy
We typically recommend people who undergo a lumpectomy also receive a regimen of radiation over the course of a few weeks or months. We’ll choose a radiation therapy and schedule based on your personal situation, age and characteristics of your cancer.
Though a lumpectomy usually produces little scarring or changes to the breast, you might opt for a breast lift, reduction, tissue rearrangement or other plastic surgery to make your breasts more symmetrical.
Risks of a lumpectomy
A lumpectomy is a relatively safe procedure with few, if any, side effects. However, just like with any surgery, possible complications do exist, and you should be aware of them, so you can try to prevent them or know to speak with your doctor as soon as you begin to experience issues.
Possible risks of a lumpectomy include:
- Infection at the incision site
- Buildup of fluid (seroma)
- Swelling, especially if lymph nodes are removed (lymphedema)
- Loss of sensation
- Nerve pain that typically goes away after a few weeks or months
- Scarring
- Uneven breasts or other cosmetic changes
Also, there is a chance a second surgery, called a re-excision lumpectomy, may be necessary. This occurs when the margin tissue (the rim of healthy tissue removed during a lumpectomy) tests positive for cancer cells, and we need to remove more breast tissue to ensure we got all the cancer.
Related resources
Breast Cancer Symptoms and Causes
Breast Cancer Prevention and Risk Factors
Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Staging
Breast Cancer Treatment