Surgical oncology
Breast cancer surgery
Removal of the tumour with a clear margin, together with assessment of the lymph nodes in the armpit — either breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy.
In plain language
What this operation is
Breast cancer surgery has two parts. The first is removing the tumour itself with a rim of healthy tissue around it. The second is assessing the lymph nodes in the armpit, because that is where breast cancer spreads first and the answer determines what treatment follows.
Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) removes the tumour and keeps the breast. A mastectomy removes the whole breast. Which is appropriate depends on the size and position of the tumour relative to the breast, whether there is more than one area involved, and your own preference once the options are explained.
Surgery is one part of treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment may come before or after it, and that sequence is decided from the staging and the tumour type.
Who it is for
When this operation is advised
- A breast lump confirmed as cancer on biopsy
- Suspicious changes on mammogram or ultrasound requiring tissue diagnosis
- Nipple discharge with blood, or skin changes over the breast
- After chemotherapy given first to shrink a tumour
And when it is not. Not every breast lump is cancer — most are not. A lump needs assessment and usually a biopsy, but the finding of a lump alone does not mean an operation.
How it works
From assessment to follow-up
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01
First consultation
History, examination and review of every report and film you already have. Bring the actual films, not only the printed summaries.
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02
Diagnosis and staging
Biopsy confirms the diagnosis; imaging establishes how far the disease has gone. No treatment plan is made before this.
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03
The plan
Whether surgery is the right step, and in what order relative to chemotherapy or radiotherapy — agreed with you before anything is booked.
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04
Treatment and follow-up
The operation where appropriate, then the pathology report, and continuing follow-up.
Afterwards
What recovery involves
Recovery differs between patients. What follows is what usually happens — your own timeframe is given at discharge, based on the operation you actually had.
- Most people go home within a few days, depending on the operation.
- A drain is sometimes needed for a period after axillary surgery.
- Arm and shoulder exercises are usually started early and are important for movement.
- The pathology report guides whether radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone treatment follows.
When to go to hospital instead
A rapidly swelling, hot or very painful breast after surgery, or a fever, needs prompt assessment.
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Anything not covered here can be answered at the consultation.
01 Will I lose my breast?
Not necessarily. Breast-conserving surgery keeps the breast where the tumour size and position allow it, and it is combined with radiotherapy. Whether it is an option in your case depends on the imaging and the biopsy, and it is discussed openly with you.
Options02 Why are lymph nodes in the armpit removed?
Because that is where breast cancer spreads first. Assessing them tells the pathologist the true stage, which determines whether chemotherapy or radiotherapy is advised. It is a diagnostic step as much as a treatment one.
Lymph nodes03 স্তনে চাকা মানেই কি ক্যান্সার?
না। স্তনের বেশিরভাগ চাকাই ক্যান্সার নয়। তবে কোনটি ক্যান্সার আর কোনটি নয়, তা শুধু হাত দিয়ে বোঝা যায় না — পরীক্ষা ও প্রয়োজনে বায়োপসি করে নিশ্চিত হতে হয়। তাই চাকা পেলে দেরি না করে দেখিয়ে নিন।
লক্ষণNext step
Bring your reports to a consultation
Often one visit is enough to know whether an operation is needed at all.