Lumpectomy and Mastectomy
Types of breast surgery
Breast surgery may be used to diagnose, treat or prevent breast cancer. The main types of breast surgery include:
- is surgery to remove a tumor in the breast. For people diagnosed with breast cancer, is often followed by radiation. Other names for include "partial mastectomy," "breast-conserving surgery," and "excisional biopsy."
- Mastectomy is the removal of one or both breasts. Mastectomy may be used for treatment or prevention of breast cancer.
- are often removed at the time of or mastectomy in people diagnosed with cancer to see whether, and how much the cancer has spread.
Lumpectomy or mastectomy?
and mastectomy are both used to treat breast cancer. Research has shown that combined with radiation is as effective as mastectomy for treating breast cancer. There are benefits and risks for each surgery. Read below for more information. Visit our Decision Checklist Wizard for a list of questions to ask your doctor to help you decide which option is right for you.
Who is a candidate for ?
Most people diagnosed with breast cancer are candidates for with radiation. is a less extensive surgery than mastectomy and the recovery is often quicker.
Who is a candidate for mastectomy?
For people diagnosed with breast cancer, the decision between mastectomy and is a personal one. Those who may benefit from mastectomy include:
- People with inherited mutations linked to an increased risk for another breast cancer diagnosis.
- People with anxiety about a new breast cancer diagnosis.
- People with large cancers or multiple areas of cancer in the breast.
- People who are not able to undergo radiation therapy.
- Men with breast cancer.
For people who have not been diagnosed with breast cancer, guidelines on risk-reducing surgery mastectomy vary by gene and situation. Visit our page on breast cancer prevention for more information on these guidelines.
How do I emotionally prepare for mastectomy?
If you are finding it challenging to emotionally prepare yourself for mastectomy surgery, you are not alone. In a 2024 FORCE survey, out of 350 respondents, 74% said they found it hard to emotionally prepare for surgery and 60% found it hard to emotionally recover from surgery. FORCE support meetings and peer navigation program are designed to help people prepare for and recover from mastectomy surgery.
Types of mastectomy
In people already diagnosed with breast cancer, the location and size of the cancer may affect the type of mastectomy they can have. Most of the time, reconstruction can be done at the same time as mastectomy. See our section on Breast Reconstruction for more information. It is important to have a discussion with your surgeon about the benefits, risks and limitations of each option.
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Type of Mastectomy
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Description
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Notes |
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Modified radical mastectomy |
A modified radical mastectomy removes the entire breast and includes “axillary dissection” (removal of the from the armpit).
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Used to treat breast cancers that are larger, aggressive and involve multiple . |
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Simple mastectomy |
A simple mastectomy removes the entire breast but does not include axillary dissection. However, a limited number of axillary , known as sentinel nodes, may be removed with a simple mastectomy.
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Used to prevent or treat breast cancers in people for whom skin-sparing mastectomy is not an option. |
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Skin-sparing mastectomy |
For skin-sparing mastectomy, the breast tissue is removed, but most of the breast skin is saved to hold and shape the reconstructed breast. Most commonly, the nipple and areola are removed, but the areola may be preserved. In a skin-sparing mastectomy, incisions may be made within or around the areola, in the inframammary fold (bra line) or on the side of the breast. Skin-sparing may be used with both modified radical and simple mastectomies.
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Commonly used for risk-reducing mastectomy when immediate reconstruction is planned. Skin-sparing mastectomies may also be used to treat cancers. Research shows skin-sparing mastectomies do not increase the risk for breast cancer recurrence in patients with breast cancer. |
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Nipple-sparing mastectomy |
Nipple-sparing mastectomy is a type of skin-sparing surgery that leaves the areola and nipple intact. There are several different options for incision placement, and this may depend on the patient’s breast size, type of reconstruction planned, and desired size after surgery. Nipple-sparing may be used with both modified radical and simple mastectomies.
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Commonly used for risk-reducing mastectomy when immediate reconstruction is planned. Nipple-sparing mastectomies may also be used to treat cancers that don't involve the nipple or areola. |
Surgical risks
Every surgery has potential risks; some are more serious than others. Some mastectomy risks can affect recovery. Others can affect the type of scarring and appearance of the breast reconstruction. Some possible risks include:
- Infection
- Fluid build-up at the surgical site (seroma or hematoma)
- Delayed healing
- Blood loss
- Blood clots
- Lack of breast or chest feeling or sensation
- Pain (post-operative and long term pain syndromes)
It is important for people to discuss possible surgical risks with a surgeon to understand the seriousness and likelihood of these risks before making the decision to have risk-reducing surgery.
How long is recovery after mastectomy?
Recovery times after mastectomy vary depending on several factors including whether or not there will be reconstruction and the type of reconstruction chosen.
Average recovery time after mastectomy and reconstruction is about 3-4 weeks, but full recovery may take up to 6-8 weeks.
How long after mastectomy can you lift your arms?
Return to simple activities, such as lifting your arms above your head, may take 1-2 weeks. Many people will be able to return to exercise and full activity by 6 weeks after surgery.
Physical therapy may help to restore range of motion, decrease discomfort and reduce buildup of scar tissue.
How long after mastectomy can you go back to exercise?
When it comes to activity after mastectomy, always follow the advice of your surgeon.
Guidance on when you can resume normal activities after mastectomy may vary based on your general health, the type and extent of your surgery, whether or not you have reconstruction and the type of reconstruction that you have. Ask your doctor for an estimated timeline for recovery after surgery.
What are surgical drains? How long do drains stay in place after mastectomy?
After a mastectomy, fluid can build up in the area where breast tissue was removed. To prevent this, surgeons often place drains—thin tubes connected to small bulbs that collect fluid outside the body. After surgery, many people go home with drains and are given instructions on how to empty them. The number of drains and how long they remain in place depends on the type of surgery and whether breast reconstruction was performed.
Most drains are removed once the amount of fluid they collect drops to a safe level. This often takes 1 to 3 weeks, although recovery times vary. Drain removal is usually a quick procedure done during a follow-up office visit.