The patient's age, menopausal status, and general health are also important. Decisions about treatment are also based on the experience of the doctor and the desires of the patient. The different types of surgery used to treat breast cancer are described on the next page. This is the most common surgery for breast cancer. Lumpectomy removes just the breast lump and is followed by radiation therapy.
Most surgeons also remove the lymph nodes under the arm.
Total or simple mastectomy removes just the breast. Sometimes the underarm lymph nodes closest to the breast also are removed. Partial or segmental mastectomy removes the tumor, some of the normal breast tissue around it, and the lining over the chest muscle below the tumor. Usually some of the underarm lymph nodes are removed. In most ases, radiation therapy follows the surgery.