Breast lump removal

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Breast lumps	Breast self-exam	Breast self-exam
Breast self-exam	Causes of breast lumps	Female breast	Lumpectomy
Needle biopsy of the breast	Open biopsy of the breast

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• Lumpectomy is often preferred, because it is a smaller procedure and it has about the same chance of curing breast cancer as a mastectomy.
• Mastectomy, when all breast tissue is removed, may be done if the area of cancer is too large to remove without deforming the breast.

You and your doctor should consider:

• The size of your tumor, where in your breast it is located, whether you have more than one tumor in your breast, how much of your breast the cancer affects, and the size of your breasts.
• Your age, family history, whether you have reached menopause, and your overall health.

Always tell your doctor or nurse:

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• If you could be pregnant
• What drugs you are taking, even drugs or herbs you bought without a prescription

During the days before the surgery:

• You may be asked to stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), and any other drugs that make it hard for your blood to clot.
• Ask your doctor which drugs you should still take on the day of the surgery.
• Always try to stop smoking. Your doctor or nurse can help.

On the day of the surgery:

• Follow your doctor's instructions about eating or drinking before surgery.
• Take the drugs your doctor told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive for the procedure.

The recovery period is very short for a simple lumpectomy. You should have little pain. If you do feel pain, you can take pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

The skin should heal in about a month. You will need to take care of the surgical cut area. Change dressings as your doctor or nurse tells you to. Watch for signs of infection when you get home (such as redness, swelling, or drainage).

You may need to empty a fluid drain a few times a day for 1 to 2 weeks. Your doctor will remove the drain later.

Most women can go back to their usual activities in a week or so. Avoid heavy lifting, jogging, or activities that cause pain in the surgical area for 1 to 2 weeks.

If cancer is found, you will need to schedule follow-up treatment with your doctor.

The outcome of a lumpectomy for breast cancer depends mostly on the size of the cancer and whether it has spread to lymph nodes underneath your arm.

A lumpectomy for breast cancer is usually followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or both.

Women usually do not need breast reconstruction after lumpectomy.

Review Date: 01/28/2011
Reviewed By: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery practice specializing in breast cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washingon. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).