At Baystate Health, our breast surgeons are experienced specialists in their field. They are an important part of your breast health team and work closely with specialists in radiology, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to provide seamless care.
Your team will guide you through the entire process of surgery, educating you before your procedure and coordinating your follow-up care – including plastic and reconstructive surgery if necessary.
Our breast surgeons are trained in the latest advancements for both benign and cancerous breast conditions, such as nipple sparing mastectomy, radioactive seed localization (RSL), and oncoplastic surgery.
SURGERY FOR BENIGN (NON-CANCEROUS) BREAST CONDITIONS
Breast lesions (abnormalities in breast tissue) that are not cancer may need to be surgically removed depending on various factors. Some lesions need to be removed for more evaluation, to prevent growth, or to prevent them from developing into breast cancer. There are many types of benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions that we may treat with surgery, including:
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, surgery will probably be a part of your care plan. There are many types of breast surgery in cancer treatment. You and your breast surgeon will determine the best option for you, based on your diagnosis and your goals.
The right surgery for you will depend on many factors: the size and location of your cancer, how advanced your cancer is, whether the cancer has spread, and whether genetic testing indicates BRCA1 or BRCA2 or other genetic mutations.
In general, surgeries for breast cancer fall into two categories:
- Breast-conserving surgery, where only the cancer and surrounding tissue are removed. Examples of this type of surgery include a lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, or segmented mastectomy.
- Mastectomy, where all of the breast tissue is removed as well as tissue from surrounding areas. This procedure is also called a radical or total mastectomy. In recent years, skin sparing and nipple sparing mastectomies have also become options.