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Surgery Surgery for breast cancer is aimed at removing all the breast cancer. This can often be done safely by removing only the cancer and a rim of normal tissue. This is called a wide local excision. In some patients the cancer is too big or too near the nipple, and it is necessary to remove the whole breast (mastectomy). Surgery to the armpit At the same time as surgery to remove the tumour, lymph glands will be removed from the armpit. This has two aims:- firstly to find out if the cancer has a strong tendency to spread, and secondly to remove any spread that may already have occurred. Axillary clearance involves removal of all the lymph glands from the armpit, and is usually the operation chosen. Sometimes the surgeon may offer axillary sampling where about four lymph glands only will be removed and tested. If any of them is affected by cancer, further surgery or radiotherapy to the armpit will then be required. |