Lumpectomy or Partial Mastectomy

What is a Lumpectomy?

Lumpectomy is a surgery to remove cancer from the breast. Unlike a mastectomy, a lumpectomy removes only the tumor and a small rim of normal tissue around it. It leaves most of the breast skin and tissue in place. Lumpectomy is also commonly refereed to as breast conserving surgery, partial mastectomy and wide excision. Many women choose lumpectomy over mastectomy to keep their breast and have it look (as much as possible) like it did before surgery. Often times the general shape of the breast and the nipple area are kept. However, a lumpectomy will change the look and feel of your breast. In fact, the look and feel of your breast will continue to change during the first 1-2 years after surgery and radiation therapy.

Since your breast may not look or feel the same as prior to surgery, it's important to have a proper fitting bra to ensure you don't cause any more damage to your already healing breast tissue. Since breast surgery varies from person to person, you should always listen to your doctor or surgeon regarding the healing process. Immediately after surgery, you will most likely wear a post-surgery bra or wire-free sport bra. Depending on the person, after recovery is when your needs for a bra may change. Being fitted by a professional will help lift some of the worry and anxiety of bra shopping post surgery since bra fitters know what styles and materials will work best for you! For example, someone who now has sensitive breasts may no longer feel comfortable wearing an underwire bra and prefer to wear wire-free bras instead.