A lumpectomy is a breast cancer treatment in which a lump in the breast and some normal tissue surrounding it are removed. Obtaining a clean margin around the lump helps increase the likelihood that no cancer cells remain in the breast.

As a form of breast conservation therapy, lumpectomy is surgery that removes a cancer while allowing a woman to preserve the natural appearance of her breast as much as possible. The procedure also includes the removal of lymph nodes from under the arm in either a sentinel node biopsy or axillary node dissection for examination by a pathologist. This is performed to determine if the cancer has metastasized to the lymphatic system, which is vital to planning cancer treatment.

Following the lumpectomy, patients whose removed tissue is confirmed to be cancerous are likely to have radiation therapy for about six weeks. Sometimes chemotherapy treatment will be necessary in addition to radiation therapy.

A woman diagnosed with breast cancer who requires surgery will likely consult with her cancer care team about whether to treat the cancer with a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. For most women with stage I or stage II breast cancer, a lumpectomy or a partial mastectomy is as good as a full mastectomy, with survival rates nearly identical, according to the American Cancer Society. 

Lumpectomies are often preferred because they remove the cancer while preserving the natural look of the breast. However, lumpectomies also require a woman to have several weeks of radiation after surgery, which is usually not the case after a mastectomy. In addition, other factors can affect whether or not a woman is a good candidate for a lumpectomy.

Lumpectomies are not advised for women:

• Who have already had radiation therapy to the affected breast
  
  
• With two or more areas of cancer in the same breast too far apart to be removed through a single surgical incision (including involvement of a lymph node)
  
  
• Who have had an initial lumpectomy along with re-excision that has not completely removed the cancer
  
  
• With serious connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma (thickening and hardening of the skin), which make them especially sensitive to side effects of radiation therapy
  
  
• Who are pregnant (risking harm to the fetus from the radiation)
  
  
• With a tumor larger than 5 centimeters (2 inches) that does not shrink much with chemotherapy
  
  
• With cancer that is large relative to a small breast

In addition, women must consider their personal feelings and lifestyle when considering a lumpectomy versus a mastectomy. Despite the evidence that the two procedures have similar outlooks for recovery, some women have greater fears about recurrence of cancer if breast tissue remains. In addition, a woman’s work schedule or family commitment may not accommodate the usual course of radiation therapy that follows a lumpectomy. All of these factors play a role in choosing lumpectomy for breast cancer treatment.