Procedure guide · Surgical oncology
Breast cancer surgery removes the tumour and nearby breast tissue. The US National Cancer Institute explains that most people with breast cancer or DCIS have surgery, and the two main types are lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery) and mastectomy. Lymph nodes are usually checked too. Your breast surgeon and oncology team recommend the approach after reviewing your reports.
What does breast cancer surgery involve?
A lumpectomy removes the tumour with some surrounding tissue and keeps most of the breast. A mastectomy removes the breast. The NCI notes there are different types of mastectomy, and breast reconstruction may be done after mastectomy.
The NCI also explains that surgery usually includes checking nearby lymph nodes. A sentinel lymph node biopsy is usually done, often during the lumpectomy or mastectomy and sometimes as a separate operation.
Who may be considered for each type of surgery?
The choice depends on the size and position of the tumour, the cancer type, the breast size and your own wishes. The NCI lists other treatments that may be part of a plan, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Some are given before surgery and some after.
Because breast cancer treatment usually involves several specialists, ask whether your case will be reviewed by a tumour board. Your surgeon and oncologists decide the order of treatments with you.
Which reports does a breast cancer team usually ask for?
Ask the hospital whether it needs:
- the biopsy histopathology report
- receptor results for oestrogen, progesterone and HER2
- mammogram, ultrasound and breast MRI images with reports
- staging scans such as CT, bone scan or PET-CT, if done
- any genetic test results
- blood tests and a note of other health conditions
- access to the biopsy blocks or slides if the team wants its own pathologist to review them
How do I plan breast cancer surgery in India?
Think about the whole treatment plan, not only the operation. If chemotherapy or radiation will follow, decide early where each part will happen. Plan for remote review, a plan and estimate, visas, arrival and checks, surgery, a short stay and a wound review. Pathology results from the operation often shape the next steps, so ask when they will be ready.
Bring an attendant to help with dressing and daily tasks while your arm and chest heal. Ask for written advice on drains, wound care and arm exercises. Before you leave, collect the operation note, final pathology report and the recommended next treatment. Share them with an oncologist at home who agrees to continue your care.
What should I ask the hospital before booking?
- Am I suitable for breast-conserving surgery?
- Will a sentinel lymph node biopsy be done and when?
- Is reconstruction possible, and at the same time or later?
- Will a tumour board review my case before surgery?
- When will the final pathology be ready, and will I still be in India?
- Who will give radiation or chemotherapy if I need it after surgery?
Who decides
IndiaMedica does not give medical advice. Your oncology team decides on treatment, its schedule, how long you stay and when it is safe to travel.
Questions people ask
Will I need radiation after a lumpectomy?
Many people do, but it depends on your cancer and the team’s plan. The NCI lists radiation therapy among the treatments that may be used alongside surgery. Ask your team before surgery whether radiation is likely, so you can plan where and when it will happen.
Can my original biopsy slides be reviewed in India?
Some hospitals ask for the biopsy blocks or slides so their own pathologist can confirm the diagnosis. Ask whether yours will. Ask your hospital at home how to release them and how they should be packed and sent. Keep copies of every report.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Breast cancer surgery
- National Cancer Institute — Surgery choices for DCIS or breast cancer
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. Your treating specialist decides on suitability, treatment and length of stay. How we write and check.