Breast Cancer Surgery Choices - National Cancer Institute

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Introduction

Step 1: Talk with your surgeon

Step 2: Learn the facts

Step 3. Find out about your breast cancer surgery choices

Step 4: Compare your choices

Step 4: Compare Your Choices

Step 5: Think about what is important to you

Step 6: Make your choice

Resources to Learn More

Introduction

As a woman with early-stage breast cancer (DCIS or Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA breast cancer) you may be able to choose which type of breast surgery to have. Often, your choice is between breast-sparing surgery (surgery that takes out the cancer and leaves most of the breast) and a mastectomy (surgery that removes the whole breast). Research shows that women with early-stage breast cancer who have breast-sparing surgery along with radiation therapy live as long as those who have a mastectomy. Most women with breast cancer will lead long, healthy lives after treatment.

Treatment for breast cancer usually begins a few weeks after diagnosis. In these weeks, you should meet with a surgeon, learn the facts about your surgery choices, and think about what is important to you. Then choose which kind of surgery to have.

Most women want to make this choice. After all, the kind of surgery you have will affect how you look and feel. But it is often hard to decide what to do. This booklet has information that can help you make a choice you feel good about.

This booklet is for women who have early-stage breast cancer (DCIS or Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA). If your cancer is Stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV this booklet does not have the information you need. To find information for you, see "Resources to Learn More."

Of note, important words are in bold and defined through this booklet.

Talk to a surgeon about your breast cancer surgery choices. Find out what happens during surgery, types of problems that sometimes occur, and other kinds of treatment (if any) you will need after surgery. Be sure to ask a lot of questions and learn as much as you can. You may also wish to talk with family members, friends, or others who have had breast cancer surgery.

After talking with a surgeon, you may want a second opinion. This means talking with another doctor who might tell you about other treatment options or simply give you information that can help you feel better about the choice you are making. Don't worry about hurting your surgeon's feelings. It is common practice to get a second opinion and some insurance companies require it. Plus, it is better to get a second opinion than worry that you made the wrong choice.

Stages of Breast Cancer

Doctors talk about stages of cancer. This is a way of saying how big the tumor is and how far it has spread. If you are unsure of the stage of your cancer, ask your doctor or nurse. Here are the stages of breast cancer discussed in this book:

Stage 0: This means that you either have DCIS or LCIS.
- DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) is very early breast cancer that is often too small to form a lump. Your doctor may refer to DCIS as noninvasive cancer.
- LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ) is not cancer but may increase the chance that you will get breast cancer. Talk with your doctor about treatment options if you are diagnosed with LCIS.
Stage I: Your cancer is less than 1 inch across (2 centimeters) or about the size of a quarter. The cancer is only in the breast and has not spread to lymph nodes or other parts of your body.
Stage IIA:
- No cancer is found in your breast, but cancer is found in the lymph nodes under your arm; or
- Your cancer is 1 inch (2 centimeters) or smaller and has spread to the lymph nodes under your arm; or
- Your cancer is about 1 to 2 inches (2 to 5 centimeters) but has not spread to the lymph nodes under your arm.
Stage IIB:
- Your cancer is about 1 to 2 inches (2 to 5 centimeters) and has spread to the lymph nodes under your arm; or
- Your cancer is larger than 2 inches (5 centimeters) and has not spread to the lymph nodes under your arm.
Stage IIIA:
- No cancer is found in the breast, but is found in lymph nodes under your arm, and the lymph nodes are attached to each other; or
- Your cancer is 2 inches (5 centimeters) or smaller and has spread to lymph nodes under your arm, and the lymph nodes are attached to each other; or
- Your cancer is larger than 2 inches (5 centimeters) and has spread to lymph nodes under your arm.

About Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes are part of your body's immune system which helps fight infection and disease. Lymph nodes are small, round, and clustered (like a bunch of grapes) throughout your body.

Axillary lymph nodes are in the area under your arm. Breast cancer may spread to these lymph nodes even when the tumor in the breast is small. This is why most surgeons take out some of these lymph nodes.

Lymphedema is a swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid. You may have this type of swelling in your arm if your lymph nodes are taken out with surgery or damaged by radiation therapy. Here are some facts to know:

Lymphedema can show up soon after surgery. The symptoms are often mild and last for a short time.
Lymphedema can show up months or even years after cancer treatment is over. Often, lymphedema develops after an insect bite, minor injury, or burn on the arm where your lymph nodes were removed. Sometimes, this can be painful. One way to reduce the swelling is to work with a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation or a physical therapist.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is surgery to remove as few lymph nodes as possible from under the arm. The surgeon first injects a dye in the breast to see which lymph nodes the breast tumor drains into. Then, he or she removes these nodes to see if they have any cancer. If there is no cancer, the surgeon may leave the other lymph nodes in place. This surgery is new and is under study in clinical trial (research studies with people who have cancer). Talk with your surgeon if you want to learn more.

For ways to find out more about lymphedema, look in "Resources to Learn More."

Most women who have DCIS or Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA breast cancer have three basic surgery choices. They are 1) breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation therapy, 2) mastectomy, or 3) mastectomy with breast reconstruction surgery.

Breast-Sparing Surgery

Breast-sparing surgery means that the surgeon removes only your cancer and some normal tissue around it. This kind of surgery keeps your breast intact--looking a lot like it did before surgery. Other words for breast-sparing surgery include "lumpectomy," "partial mastectomy," "breast-conserving surgery," or "segmental mastectomy."

After breast-sparing surgery, most women also get radiation therapy. This type of treatment is very important because it could keep cancer from coming back in the same breast. Some women also need chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Mastectomy

In a mastectomy, the surgeon removes all of your breast and nipple. Sometimes, you will also need to have radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or all three types of therapy. Here are some types of mastectomy:

Total (simple) mastectomy. The surgeon removes all of your breast. Sometimes, the surgeon also takes out some of the lymph nodes under your arm.
Modified radical mastectomy. The surgeon removes all of your breast, many of the lymph nodes under your arm, the lining over your chest muscles, and maybe a small chest muscle.
Double Mastectomy. The surgeon removes both your breasts at the same time, even if your cancer is in only one breast. This surgery is rare and mostly used when the surgeon feels you have a high risk for getting cancer in the breast that does not have cancer.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery

If you have a mastectomy, you can also choose to have breast reconstruction surgery. This surgery is done by a reconstructive plastic surgeon and gives you a new breast-like shape and nipple. Your surgeon can also add a tattoo that looks like the areola (the dark area around your nipple). Or you may not want any more surgery and prefer to wear a prosthesis (breast-like form) in your bra. There are two types of breast reconstruction surgery:

Breast implants. In this kind of surgery, a reconstructive plastic surgeon puts an implant (filled with salt water or silicone gel) under your skin or chest muscle to build a new breast-like shape. While this shape looks like a breast, you will have little feeling in it because the nerves have been cut.
Breast implants do not last a lifetime. If you choose to have an implant, chances are you will need more surgery later on to remove or replace it. Implants can cause problems such as breast hardness, breast pain, and infection. The implant may also break, move, or shift. These problems can happen soon after surgery or years later.
Tissue flaps. In tissue flap surgery, a surgeon builds a new breast-like shape from muscle, fat, and skin taken from other parts of your body. This new breast-like shape should last the rest of your life.Women who are very thin or obese, smoke, or have other serious health problems often cannot have tissue flap surgery.
Tissue flap is major surgery. Healing often takes longer after this surgery than if you have breast implants. You may have other problems, as well. For example, you might lose strength in the part of your body where muscle was taken to build a new breast. Or you may get an infection or have trouble healing. Tissue flap surgery is best done by a reconstructive plastic surgeon who has done it many times before.

To learn more about breast reconstruction, see "Resources to Learn More."

Below are some questions you may be thinking about. Click on the question to learn more.

Is this surgery right for me?

Will I need more surgery?

What are the names of the different kinds of surgery?

What other types of treatment will I need?

What doctors am I likely to see?

10.

Will insurance pay for my surgery?

What will my breast look like after surgery?

11.

Will the type of surgery I have affect how long I live?

Will I have feeling in the area around my breast?

12.

What are the chances that my cancer will come back after surgery?

Will I have pain after the surgery?

13.

Where can I learn more about coping with life after cancer?

What other problems can I expect?

1. Is this surgery right for me?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Breast-sparing surgery with radiation is a safe choice for most women who have early-stage breast cancer.This means that your cancer is DCIS or at Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA.	Mastectomy is a safe choice for women who have early-stage breast cancer (DCIS, Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA). You may need a mastectomy if: You have small breasts and a large tumor You have cancer in more than one part of your breast The tumor is under the nipple You do not have access to radiation therapy.	If you have a mastectomy, you might also want breast reconstruction surgery. You can choose to have reconstruction surgery at the same time as your mastectomy or wait and have it at a later date.

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2. What are the names of the different kinds of surgery?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Lumpectomy Partial mastectomy Breast-sparing surgery Segmental mastectomy	Total mastectomy Modified radical mastectomy Double mastectomy	Breast implant Tissue flap surgery

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3. What doctors am I likely to see?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Oncologist Surgeon Radiation oncologist	Oncologist Surgeon Radiation oncologist	Oncologist Surgeon Radiation oncologist Reconstructive plastic surgeon

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4. What will my breast look like after surgery?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Your breast should look a lot like it did before surgery. But if your tumor is large, your breast may look different or smaller after breast-sparing surgery.	Your breast and nipple will be removed.You will have a flat chest on the side of your body where the breast was removed.	Although you will have a breast-like shape, your breast will not look the same as it did before surgery.

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5. Will I have feeling in the area around my breast?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Yes. You should still have feeling in your breast, nipple, and areola (the dark area around your nipple).	Maybe. After surgery, you will feel numb (have no feeling) in your chest wall and maybe also under your arm. This numb feeling should go away in 1 to 2 years, but it will never feel like it used to. Also, the skin where your breast was may feel tight.	No. The area around your breast will always be numb (have no feeling).

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6. Will I have pain after the surgery?

Breast-Sparing Surgery

Mastectomy Surgery

Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery

You may have pain after surgery.

Talk with your surgeon or nurse about ways to control this pain.

To find out ways to learn more about pain control, see "Resources to Learn More."

You may have pain after surgery. Talk with your surgeon or nurse about ways to control this pain.

To find out ways to learn more about pain control, see "Resources to Learn More."

You are likely to have pain after major surgery such as mastectomy and reconstruction surgery.

There are many ways to deal with pain. Let your surgeon or nurse know if you need relief from pain. To find out ways to learn more about pain control, see "Resources to Learn More."

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7. What other problems can I expect?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
You may feel very tired after radiation therapy. You may get lymphedema-- a problem in which your arm swells.To find out more about lymphedema, see the "About Lymph Nodes" box and "Resources to Learn More."	You may have pain in your neck or back. You may feel out of balance if you had large breasts and do not have reconstruction surgery. You may get lymphedema-- a problem in which your arm swells.To find out more about lymphedema, see the "About Lymph Nodes" box and "Resources to Learn More."	It may take you many weeks or even months to recover from breast reconstruction surgery. If you have an implant, you may get infections, pain, or hardness. Also, you may not like how your breast-like shape looks.You may need more surgery if your implant breaks or leaks. If you have tissue flap surgery, you may lose strength in the part of your body where the flap came from. You may get lymphedema-- a problem in which your arm swells.To find out more about lymphedema, see the "About Lymph Nodes" box and "Resources to Learn More."

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8. Will I need more surgery?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Maybe.You may need more surgery to remove lymph nodes from under your arm. Also, if the surgeon does not remove all your cancer the first time, you may need more surgery.	Maybe.You may need surgery to remove lymph nodes from under your arm. Also, if you have problems after your mastectomy, you may need to see your surgeon for treatment.	Yes.You will need surgery at least 2 more times to build a new breast-like shape.With implants, you may need more surgery months or years later.You may also need surgery to remove lymph nodes from under your arm.

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9. What other types of treatment will I need?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
You will need radiation therapy, given almost every day for 5 to 8 weeks.You also may need chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or both.	You also may need chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation therapy. Some women get all three types of therapy.	You may need chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation therapy. Some women get all three types of therapy.

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10. Will insurance pay for my surgery?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Check with your insurance company to find out how much it pays for breast cancer surgery and other needed treatments.	Check with your insurance company to find out how much it pays for breast cancer surgery and other needed treatments.	Check with your insurance company to find out if it pays for breast reconstruction surgery. You should also ask if your insurance will pay for problems that may result from breast reconstruction surgery.

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11. Will the type of surgery I have affect how long I live?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Women with early-stage breast cancer who have breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation live just as long as women who have a mastectomy.Most women with breast cancer will lead long, healthy lives after treatment.	Women with early-stage breast cancer who have a mastectomy live the same amount of time as women who have breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation therapy.Most women with breast cancer will lead long, healthy lives after treatment.	Women with early-stage breast cancer who have a mastectomy live the same amount of time as women who have breast-sparing surgery followed by radiation therapy.Most women with breast cancer will lead long, healthy lives after treatment.

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12. What are the chances that my cancer will come back after surgery?

Breast-Sparing Surgery	Mastectomy Surgery	Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
About 10% (1 out of every 10) of women who have breast-sparing surgery along with radiation therapy get cancer in the same breast within 12 years. If this happens, you will need a mastectomy, but it will not affect how long you live.	About 5% (1 out of every 20) of women who have a mastectomy will get cancer on the same side of their chest within 12 years.	About 5% (1 out of every 20) of women who have a mastectomy will get cancer on the same side of their chest within 12 years. Breast reconstruction surgery does not affect the chances of your cancer coming back.

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13. Where can I learn more about coping with life after cancer?

To learn more about life after cancer, you might want to read Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment. You can get this booklet at www.cancer.gov/publications or 1-800-4-CANCER.

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After you have talked with your surgeon and learned the facts, you may also want to talk with your spouse or partner, family, friends, or other women who have had breast cancer surgery.

Then, think about what is important to you. Here are some questions to think about:

Do I want to get a second opinion?
How important is it to me how my breast looks after cancer surgery?
How important is it to me how my breast feels after cancer surgery?
If I have breast-sparing surgery, am I willing and able to also get radiation therapy?
If I have a mastectomy, do I also want breast reconstruction surgery?
If I have breast reconstruction surgery, do I want it at the same time as my mastectomy?
What treatment does my insurance cover, and what do I have to pay for?
Who would I like to talk with about my surgery choices?
What else do I want to know, do, or learn before I make my choice about breast cancer surgery?

"After I learned all I could and talked with my surgeon, I made a choice that felt right for me."

Now that you have talked with your surgeon, learned the facts, and thought about what is important to you--it's time to make your breast cancer surgery choice.

"Now that my surgery is over, I don't look back. I enjoy each day and take time for the simple pleasures."

Learn More About Breast Cancer

National Cancer Institute

Cancer Information Service
Gives up-to-date information on cancer to patients and their families, health professionals, and the general public. Information specialists explain scientific information in plain language and respond in English or Spanish.

Toll-free:      1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)

TTY:      1-800-332-8615

Chat online:      www.cancer.gov
click on "Need Help?" then "LiveHelp"
www.cancer.gov
The National Cancer Institute's Web site contains information about cancer causes and prevention, screening and diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and survivorship; clinical trials; statistics, funding, and training; and the NCI's programs and research activities.

National Research Center for Women & Families

Web site:

www.center4research.org

Office on Women's Health

National Women's Health Information Center

Web site:

www.4women.gov

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Web site:

www.ahrq.gov/clinic

Learn More About Lymphedema

National Lymphedema Network

Phone:		510-208-3200
Toll-free:		1-800-541-3259
E-mail:		nln@lymphnet.org
Web site:		www.lymphnet.org

Learn More About Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Implants

American Cancer Society

Phone:		404-320-3333
Toll-free:		1-800-227-2345 (I-800-ACS-2345)
Web site:		www.cancer.org

National Library of Medicine

Resources about breast reconstruction.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastreconstruction.html

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Information about breast implants.
www.fda.gov/cdrh/breastimplants

Learn More About Pain Control

National Cancer Institute

Cancer Information Service
Gives up-to-date information on cancer to patients and their families, health professionals, and the general public. Information specialists explain scientific information in plain language and respond in English or Spanish.

Toll-free:      1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)

TTY:      1-800-332-8615

Chat online:      www.cancer.gov
click on "Need Help?" then "LiveHelp"
www.cancer.gov
The National Cancer Institute's Web site contains information about cancer causes and prevention, screening and diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and survivorship; clinical trials; statistics, funding, and training; and the NCI's programs and research activities.