Breast-conserving surgery

In breast-conserving surgery, surgeons aim to remove the patient’s breast cancer but not the entire breast. Some normal tissue surrounding the cancer will be excised as well, and lymph nodes under the armpit and part of the chest wall lining may also be removed. Breast-conserving surgery may be an option for patients who meet certain criteria (small tumor size, cancer located in just one area of the breast, etc.). Breast-conserving surgery is also referred to as a partial mastectomy, lumpectomy, or breast-sparing surgery.