Lumpectomy  is  a surgery to remove cancer or other abnormal tissues from the ailing breast. It  is as well called the breast-conserving surgery or wide local excision. In this procedure, only a portion of the breast is removed. It may also be referred as an excisional biopsy in medical terms. It helps confirming a diagnosis of cancer or to rule it out. Lumpectomy is also considered a first treatment option for some women with early-stage breast cancer. If the cancer is found positive, lumpectomy is followed by radiation therapy. 

Why Lumpectomy is Performed? 

• The major goal of lumpectomy is to remove cancer or other abnormal tissues while maintaining the appearance of breast for women with early-stage breast cancer.

•  It may also be used to remove certain non-cancerous or pre-cancerous breast disorders.

• Lumpectomy for breast cancer is omitted as an option if you have a history of scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus or there are two or more tumours in different quadrants of your breast which are not possible to be  removed with a single wide excision. As well as in the cases with previous breast radiation treatment or in which cancer has spread throughout the breast and overlying skin or the tumours are large and breasts are small, which may bear  poor cosmetic result, lumpectomy is avoided. It also is ruled out in cases where there is no access to radiation therapy.

How Lumpectomy is Performed?

Lumpectomy is performed under general anaesthesia.The surgeon makes an incision over the tumour or over the area with the wire and removes the tumour and some surrounding tissues to send them to the lab for analysis. The surgeon will do the same process for the sentinel lymph nodes if a sentinel node biopsy or the axillary lymph node is being performed.

The surgeon later closes the incisions to preserve the appearance of your breast, using sutures that either dissolve on their own or are later removed  by the surgeon.

Risks (Side effects) 

• Bleeding

• Infection

• Pain

• Temporary inflammation

• Tenderness

• Hard scar tissue formation at the surgical site

• Changes in the appearance and shape of the breast 

After the Procedure

After surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery room. Your blood pressure, pulse and breathing will be monitored. Depending on the procedure you have undergone, you’ll be discharged when your condition stabilises.You may need to stay in the hospital for 1-2 days.