EASTERN SUBURBS BREAST CENTRE
Breast Conserving Surgery (Lumpectomy)
What is a Lumpectomy?
A wide local excision - commonly called a lumpectomy or breast conserving surgery - is an operation to remove a breast cancer along with a small cuff of normal surrounding breast tissue. It is the most common surgical treatment for breast cancer, and for many women it offers an effective, less extensive alternative to mastectomy.
Breast conserving surgery is almost always followed by a course of radiotherapy to the remaining breast tissue. When the two are combined, studies consistently show equivalent long-term survival outcomes to mastectomy - meaning that for suitable candidates, keeping your breast does not come at the cost of your cancer treatment.
The Benefits of Breast Conservation
Preserving your natural breast has real and meaningful advantages - physically and emotionally.
Breast conserving surgery allows you to keep your breast, with the aim of maintaining as much of your natural shape and appearance as possible. Research and clinical experience consistently show that this has a positive psychological impact for many women. Even when mastectomy is followed by reconstruction, breast conserving surgery is generally less physically disruptive and less disfiguring - and for women who are suitable candidates, it is the preferred approach for exactly this reason.
At Eastern Suburbs Breast Centre, our breast surgeons and plastic surgeons discuss every case together. Where a significant volume of tissue needs to be removed, or where tumour location might affect the cosmetic result, oncoplastic techniques - which combine cancer removal with reshaping of the breast - can be considered to achieve the best possible aesthetic outcome alongside clear oncological margins.
The Operation
Lumpectomy is performed under general anaesthetic and typically takes around one hour. Most patients go home on the same day as surgery.
Your surgeon will discuss the expected scar with you at your consultation - its position and length will depend on the size and location of your tumour. At the time of surgery, small titanium clips are placed inside the breast at the site of the excision. These clips help the radiation oncology team accurately target your radiotherapy to the correct area of the breast. They are inert, entirely harmless, and fully MRI compatible - they will not cause any problems and do not need to be removed.
Wire or seed localisation
If your tumour is not easily felt on examination, your surgeon may arrange for a radiologist to place a fine wire or a small radioactive seed into the breast before surgery. This guides the surgeon to the precise location of the cancer and helps ensure accurate removal.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
In most cases, a sentinel lymph node biopsy is performed at the same time as your lumpectomy. This involves removing one or a small number of lymph nodes from under the arm to check whether cancer has spread beyond the breast. If the nodes are clear, no further lymph node surgery is needed. Your surgeon will discuss whether this applies to you.
Radiotherapy After Breast Conserving Surgery
Radiotherapy to the remaining breast tissue is a standard and important part of treatment following lumpectomy for most patients. It significantly reduces the risk of the cancer returning in the breast. Treatment is delivered by a radiation oncologist, usually commencing several weeks after surgery once your wound has healed. Our team will coordinate your referral and ensure your radiation oncologist has all the information they need - including your surgical and pathology details - before your radiotherapy begins.
Your Recovery
Recovery from a lumpectomy is generally straightforward, and most patients feel well within a short period of time:
Hospital stay: Most patients go home on the day of surgery
Wound care: You will have a waterproof dressing on your wound and can shower normally after surgery
Time off work: Up to one week, depending on the nature of your occupation
Bathing and swimming: Avoid soaking in a bath or swimming until cleared at your post-operative appointment
Exercise and lifting: Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise until you have been reviewed by your surgeon
Your post-operative appointment will be approximately two weeks after surgery. At this visit your pathology results will be discussed in full - including whether clear margins were achieved and what this means for your ongoing treatment. Your return to normal activities, scar management, and any further treatment recommendations will also be addressed at this time.
In a small number of cases, pathology shows that the margins around the tumour are not clear, and a further operation to remove additional tissue may be required. Your surgeon will explain what this means and what the next steps would be if this applies to you.
Risks & Complications
Your surgeon will discuss the risks of breast conserving surgery with you in detail at your consultation. These include:
General surgical risks
Bleeding or haematoma
Infection
Wound healing difficulties
Anaesthetic risks
Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis)
Risks specific to lumpectomy
Incomplete excision requiring a return to theatre
Change in the shape or contour of the breast
Asymmetry between the two breasts
Altered sensation in the breast or nipple
Seroma (fluid collection at the operation site)
Scarring
Lymphoedema (swelling of the arm) if lymph nodes are removed
This page is intended as general patient information only and does not replace individualised medical advice. Please discuss your specific situation with your treating surgeon.
We Are Here to Help
Being diagnosed with breast cancer and facing surgery brings with it a great deal of information to absorb, often very quickly. At Eastern Suburbs Breast Centre, we take the time to make sure you understand your diagnosis and your options clearly, feel comfortable with your decisions, and know exactly what to expect before, during, and after your operation.
If you have any questions after reading this page, or would like to arrange a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact our rooms.