Breast cancer surgery is a critical component of breast cancer treatment that involves removing cancer with an operation. Breast cancer surgery may be used alone or alongside other therapies, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy. For people with a very high risk of breast cancer, breast cancer surgery may be an option to reduce the risk of future breast cancer.
Mastectomies are the most common surgery used to remove part of or the entire breast to treat or prevent breast cancer. It may also involve removing lymph nodes. The type of mastectomy you have depends on the stage and type of breast cancer, as well as your preference.
If a mastectomy is not the right option for you, we off other breast cancer surgery options that include:
Several surgical treatments are now available for breast cancer that conserves breast tissue while effectively treating cancer. For most women with early-stage breast cancer, breast conservation surgery is as effective as mastectomy, with studies showing survival rates to be the same.
SAVI SCOUT® radar localization technology
SAVI SCOUT® makes lumpectomies — breast-conserving surgeries where only part of the breast is removed — easier for both patients and their surgeons by accurately pinpointing tumors before surgery. Traditionally, wire localization was the preferred preoperative technique for localizing breast tumors. SAVI SCOUT® allows you to forego a wire localization.
Instead of wires, SAVI SCOUT® uses a reflector that’s about the size of a grain of rice. To make the day of surgery less complicated, you can have the reflector placed on a separate day in advance of your scheduled surgery date. The reflector isn’t externally visible, and placement does not restrict your movements. The reflector is passive until activated when safe, nonradioactive radar waves are used to detect it within your breast.
Placement of the reflector is achieved using mammography or ultrasound after locating the tumor. This is considered an outpatient procedure, done prior to the surgical date.
Oncoplastic Surgery
Oncoplastic surgery is a technique used to remove breast cancer (Lumpectomy or partial Mastectomy) and reconstruct the breast to improve the cosmetic effect. This assures patients they can have their cancer removed while preserving their natural breasts’ physical appearance during surgery, without leaving the breast distorted or asymmetric.
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