Breast-conserving surgery

This type of surgery is sometimes called partial (or segmental) mastectomy. It is also sometimes called lumpectomy or quadrantectomy. In breast-conserving surgery (BCS), only the part of the breast containing the cancer is removed. The goal is to remove the cancer as well as some surrounding normal tissue. How much of the breast is removed depends on the size and location of the tumor and other factors.

BCS is commonly used to treat women with breast cancer. It is not used as often in men, in part because most men do not care about keeping breast tissue. Mainly, though, it is because removing most male breast cancers requires removing almost all of the breast tissue, since the male breast is usually small and has only a small amount of tissue beneath the nipple. And because men have less breast tissue, cancers in their breasts are more likely to have reached the nipple or skin when they are still small, which requires more extensive surgery. But BCS may be an option in some cases if the tumor is not thought to have reached the nipple. If this type of surgery is done, it is typically followed by radiation therapy.

Possible side effects of breast surgery

Types of Lymph node surgery

Chronic pain after breast surgery

Surgery Procedure for Male Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy for breast cancer in men

Chemotherapy for breast cancer in men

Hormone therapy for breast cancer in men

Targeted therapy for breast cancer in men

Bone-directed therapy for breast cancer in men

Coping and support for male breast cancer