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Dictionary of Cancer Terms
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breast-conserving surgery (brest kun-SER-ving SER-juh-ree)

 An operation to remove the breast cancer but not the breast itself. Types of breast-conserving surgery include lumpectomy (removal of the lump), quadrantectomy (removal of one quarter, or quadrant, of the breast), and segmental mastectomy (removal of the cancer as well as some of the breast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor). Also called breast-sparing surgery.

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Breast-conserving surgery; drawing shows removal of the tumor and axillary lymph nodes.

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