Early breast cancer: a guide for women - Cancer Australia

Breast conserving surgery is an option if the breast cancer is small enoughcompared to the size of your breast:• to allow removal of the cancer and some healthy tissue around it and• to give an acceptable appearance.What does breast conserving surgery involve?Breast conserving surgery usually involves:• removal of the cancer and a small area of healthy tissue around it• radiotherapy to the breast after surgery.Some people also have radiotherapy to lymph nodes in the armpit and/orlower neck.For more information about radiotherapy, see the ‘Radiotherapy’chapter in this section.For more information about surgery to remove lymph nodes, see the‘Surgery to the armpit (axilla)’ chapter in this section.If you are having breast conserving surgery, you will probably be askedto arrive at hospital on the day of surgery. The operation is done under ageneral anaesthetic. The operation itself usually takes up to one-and-a-halfhours. There will also be preparation time and you will need time to recoverfrom the anaesthetic. You could be in hospital anywhere between one dayand one week, depending on your individual situation.What happens after breast conserving surgery?After breast conserving surgery, you will have a dressing over the surgerysite. If lymph nodes are removed from your armpit, a plastic tube (calleda drain) will usually be inserted under your arm. The drain removes bloodand fluid that collects during the healing process. It will usually be removedafter a few days.Guide for women with early breast cancer17