National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
Send to Printer
Surgery Choices for Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
    Posted: 10/22/2004
Step 4: Compare Your Choices

1. Is this surgery right for me?

Breast-Sparing Surgery Mastectomy Surgery Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Breast-sparing surgery with radiation is a safe choice for most women who have early-stage breast cancer.This means that your cancer is DCIS or at Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA. Mastectomy is a safe choice for women who have early-stage breast cancer (DCIS, Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA). You may need a mastectomy if:
  • You have small breasts and a large tumor
  • You have cancer in more than one part of your breast
  • The tumor is under the nipple
  • You do not have access to radiation therapy.
If you have a mastectomy, you might also want breast reconstruction surgery.

You can choose to have reconstruction surgery at the same time as your mastectomy or wait and have it at a later date.

Back to Questions List 1



Table of Links

1http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/breast-cancer-surgery-choices/page5