It is not surprising to see women panic in tears when they feel a lump in their breasts. So she immediately goes to her doctor to find out whether or not she’s suffering from such a deadly disease. Yet no matter whether the lump is malignant or not, the doctor may still suggest breast lump removal.
Breast lump removal or likewise known as lumpectomy, is a surgical treatment where a lump, malignant or not, is taken out of the breast. So as to be certain that no cancer remains in the breast, some of the surrounding tissues may be taken out as well. This is opposed to total mastectomy where the entire breast tissue is removed. Breast lump removal is thusly called breast conservation surgery, breast sparing surgery, wide local excision, and partial mastectomy as well.
The primary objective of breast lump removal is to clear the breast of benign or malignant tissues while preserving the rest of the breast. Breast lump removal is usually indicated in early breast cancer (stage I and stage II) patients. However, the doctor will have to consider the following first before performing breast lump surgery: number, location, and size of the tumor.
*Number – If multiple, diffuse lumps are present, lumpectomy may result in disfiguration of the breast. In this case, radical mastectomy is the treatment of choice. If the lumps, however, are located in just one area of the breast, it may still be possible to undergo breast lump removal.
*Location – A breast lump that has already attached itself to adjacent structures, such as the skin, the chest wall, or lymph nodes, requires more extensive surgery. Remember though that attachment to a lymph node does not absolutely eliminate the possibility of breast lump removal. Lumpectomy may be performed if the lymph node under consideration is not attached to other lymph nodes and other adjacent tissues.
*Size – Breast lump removal is usually indicated if the breast lump is smaller than five centimeters. Any lump larger than that will require a more extensive surgery.
Breast lump removal is typically carried out as an outpatient procedure. A lumpectomy is performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the situation. So if you have a lump in your breast that you want to get rid of, ask your doctor if you’re a candidate for breast lump removal so that you can have those bosoms preserved at the same time.