Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy)
Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy)
Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) is the surgical removal of a breast lump and some of the tissue around it. The lump (and sometimes the lymph nodes under the arm) is removed and sent to the lab for examination.
Breast-conserving surgery can be used in early-stage breast cancer and when the breast lump is small compared with the size of the breast. Radiation therapy is used after breast-conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer.
Credits
| Author | Kathe Gallagher, MSW |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Cynthia Tank |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology |
| Last Updated | August 31, 2007 |
| Last updated: | August 31, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW |
| Reviewed By: | Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Douglas A. Stewart, MD - Medical Oncology |
| Editors: | Cynthia Tank, Pat Truman, MATC |
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