Learn about the various surgical options for breast cancer, including lymph node removal and breast reconstruction. Understand the different types of surgery based on cancer type and stage.
Learn more about:
- Overview
- Which surgery should I have?
- Treatment before surgery
- Breast-conserving surgery
- Mastectomy
- Breast reconstruction
- Removing lymph nodes
- What to expect after breast surgery
- What your breast looks like after surgery
- Side effects of surgery
Overview
The type of surgery your doctor suggests will depend on the type and stage of the cancer, where it is in the breast, the size of your breast, and what you prefer. In most cases, you will have one or more lymph nodes removed from the armpit (called axillary surgery).
Some people also choose to have a new breast shape made during the operation (breast reconstruction).
Which surgery should I have?
The 2 different types of surgery used for breast cancer are:
- breast-conserving surgery – when only part of the breast is removed
- mastectomy – when the whole breast is removed.
Depending on your situation, you may have a choice between the 2 types of surgery. Research has shown that for most early breast cancers, having breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy works just as well as a mastectomy.
The operations have different benefits, risks and side effects. Talk to your doctor about the best option for you.
Learn more about surgery.
Treatment before surgery
While surgery is often the main treatment for both early and locally advanced breast cancer, you may have other treatments before surgery.
This is called neoadjuvant treatment and it may be discussed by an MDT. Chemotherapy is often used before surgery or you may have targeted therapy or immunotherapy, or a combination of these treatments. Occasionally you might also have hormone therapy before surgery.
Treatment can help to reduce the size of the cancer before surgery and improve your chance of a good outcome. It may also mean you can have less complex surgery or you can choose to have breast-conserving surgery instead of a mastectomy.
In some cases – particularly for people with HER2+ or triple negative cancers – neoadjuvant treatment can kill all cancer cells. Called a complete pathological response, it improves the chance of a good outcome.
Ask your doctor if neoadjuvant treatment is an option for you. People with early breast cancer may find the Neoadjuvant Patient Decision Aid helpful.
Treatment after surgery
After surgery, you may have radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or a combination of all these treatments. This is called adjuvant treatment. It helps to destroy any tiny cancer cells that may remain after surgery.
→ READ MORE: Breast-conserving surgery
Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
Arm and shoulder exercises
Doing these simple exercises improves the strength and range of movement in your arm and shoulder after breast cancer surgery.
Learn more
More resources
A/Prof Cindy Mak, Breast Surgeon and Director of Breast Services, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Nick Murray, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Adelaide Hospital and GenesisCare Adelaide, SA; Caroline Bennett, Consumer; Tamara Casey, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Assessment Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; A/Prof Joe Dusseldorp, Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Lauren Lores, Consumer; Dr Linda Madigan, Breast Physician, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; Catherine Meredith, Consumer; Ash Mondolo, Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Consultant, Mater Private Hospital, QLD; Chris Rivett, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Catrina Ross, McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW; Prof Christobel Saunders AO, James Stewart Chair of Surgery and Director of Research, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, VIC; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; A/Prof Yvonne Zissiadis, Radiation Oncologist, Medical Director, GenesisCare WA and Adjunct A/Prof, Curtin University, WA.
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