Breast Lump Removal
Also known as: lumpectomy, excisional biopsy, wide local excision, breast-conserving surgery
Breast lump removal is a surgical procedure that involves removing a lump or mass from the breast.
What is breast lump removal?
Breast lump removal is a surgical procedure that involves removing a lump or mass from the breast. The lump may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Often called a lumpectomy or excisional biopsy, the operation removes the lump with a small rim of normal breast tissue (“margin”) to help ensure complete removal if cancer is present, while preserving as much of the breast as possible. This breast-conserving approach is an alternative to mastectomy when appropriate.
What is a breast lump?
A breast lump is an area of tissue that feels different from the surrounding breast. Lumps can appear anywhere in the breast, including near the nipple, and may be firm, rubbery or soft, sometimes tender but often painless. Many are benign, such as fibroadenomas, which are common in younger women, or cysts that are fluid-filled and occasionally require needle drainage. Rarer tumours, such as phyllodes, can be benign or malignant and usually require surgery. Malignant lumps (breast cancer) require surgery and often additional treatment.
Causes and risk factors
Lumps can arise from hormonal changes, infections, injury or normal glandular variation. The likelihood that a lump is cancerous increases with factors such as family history, inherited genetic changes (for example, BRCA1/2), and age. Benign fibroadenomas are particularly common between the ages of 15 and 35 and carry a very low risk of malignancy.
Diagnosing a breast lump
Assessment typically includes breast imaging with a mammogram and ultrasound to characterise the lump and distinguish solid tissue from fluid. When cancer is a concern, a core needle biopsy is the preferred test because it gives a diagnosis before surgery; MRI may be added in selected cases, such as in younger women, dense breast tissue, or when the extent of disease is unclear. These results help determine whether surgery is required and aid in planning the operation.
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Ways to payBefore surgery
Initial consultation
At your first visit, the breast surgeon will review your medical history and symptoms, examine the breast and discuss the findings. Imaging may be arranged or repeated to define the size and position of the lump.
If cancer is suspected, a core needle biopsy will usually be performed before surgery; excision is used when results are inconclusive, or the lesion can’t be reliably biopsied. A sentinel lymph node biopsy is performed if invasive cancer is confirmed or highly suspected. Still, it is not required for benign lumps unless a mastectomy is planned.
If cancer is confirmed, radiotherapy is usually recommended after lumpectomy to reduce the risk of recurrence, with exceptions only in carefully selected low-risk patients. Sharing your personal and family history helps tailor the plan to your specific needs.
You’ll receive clear instructions about fasting, medication adjustments and practical arrangements for going home.
During surgery
Most lumpectomies are done under general anaesthesia, which means you’ll be asleep during the operation. In some cases, if the lump is tiny and close to the surface, a local anaesthetic (numbing medicine) may be enough.
If the lump is small or hard to feel, a radiologist may place a thin wire or tiny marker in the breast before surgery. This helps guide the surgeon to the exact spot.
During the operation, the surgeon makes a small cut – usually in a natural breast crease or around the areola to help reduce visible scarring. The lump is then removed. If cancer is suspected, a small rim of normal tissue around the lump is also taken out to make sure all the abnormal cells are gone. For benign (non-cancerous) lumps like fibroadenomas, only the lump itself is usually removed.
Sometimes, a sentinel lymph node biopsy is done at the same time. This involves using a small amount of blue dye and/or a safe radioactive tracer to find and test the first lymph nodes that drain from the breast.
Occasionally, lymph nodes are not removed at the same time but are sampled later if cancer is confirmed on final pathology.
The operation typically takes 30-60 minutes, and most people can go home the same day.
After surgery
Immediate post-surgery care
You’ll wake up in a recovery area while the anaesthetic wears off. Soreness, swelling, and bruising are common in the first few days and can be managed with pain relief. The incision is covered with a dressing, and a small drain may be occasionally used to remove excess fluid. You’ll be shown how to care for the wound at home, when to shower, and which activities to avoid. A supportive soft bra helps reduce swelling and discomfort. Temporary numbness or tingling in the breast or upper arm can occur, particularly if lymph nodes were removed.
Long-term recovery
During the first 1-2 weeks, expect the wound to improve, but you may still experience noticeable swelling, bruising, and tenderness. Keep the wound clean and dry, walk gently, and avoid heavy lifting or reaching overhead. Many people return to desk-based work within 1-2 weeks.
Over weeks 2-4, energy and comfort improve, bruising fades, and the wound continues to strengthen; pathology results are reviewed and, if the lump was cancerous, plans for radiotherapy or medicines are discussed.
By weeks 4-6, most normal activities resume, scars soften gradually, and breast shape continues to settle. If pathology reveals unclear margins, a further operation may be recommended to remove additional tissue.
Risks and complications
All surgery carries some risk. After a lumpectomy, infections are usually mild and respond to antibiotics; bleeding or a haematoma (a blood collection) can occur and may occasionally require drainage. Scars are typically small and tend to fade over time, though in some cases they may remain firm, red, or puckered. Changes in sensation, including numbness or tingling of the breast skin or upper arm, may occur and are often temporary.
When cancer is present, regular follow-up is essential to monitor for recurrence and to coordinate any additional treatment. Other possible issues include fluid build-up (seroma), wound healing problems, or cosmetic changes such as indentation or asymmetry of the breast. If radiotherapy is needed, the treated breast may feel firmer and change shape over time.
Appointment and Treatment Plan
Initial Consultation
Your surgeon reviews your history, examines the breast, may arrange imaging, and if cancer is suspected, performs or arranges a biopsy; surgery is planned when results are inconclusive, cancer is confirmed, or the lump cannot be reliably biopsied.
Preparation
You receive instructions on fasting, medication adjustments, and discharge arrangements; if the lump is small or hard to feel, a radiologist may place a guide wire or marker before surgery.
Surgery
Usually under general anaesthesia, the surgeon makes a small incision, removes the lump with or without a margin of normal tissue, and sometimes performs a sentinel lymph node biopsy; the procedure lasts 30-60 minutes and most patients go home the same day.
Immediate Post-surgery Care
You wake in recovery with soreness, swelling, or bruising managed by pain relief; the wound is dressed, sometimes with a small drain, and you are advised on wound care, showering, activity restrictions, and using a supportive bra.
Long-term Recovery
Healing improves steadily over 1-2 weeks with gradual return to light activities, pathology results are discussed within 2-4 weeks to guide further treatment if needed, and by 4-6 weeks most daily activities resume while the scar and breast shape continue to settle.
Experts
We are proud to provide patients with access to a wide range of clinicians, chosen specifically for their knowledge and reputation in their area of expertise. Our experts align with our values: putting you at the centre of your care and educating you on your options at each step of the journey. We encourage you to learn more about our clinicians and how they can help you below. As always, please contact our patient services team if you require any additional information.
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Our payment options are designed to offer you easy access to our treatments and services. You can choose to pay on the day, spread the cost, or use your private medical insurance.
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Whether you pay in advance, spread the cost, or use your private medical insurance, rest assured you will be receiving exceptional care 365 days a year.
Pay in Advance
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Spread the cost monthly
Paying for your treatment at One Stop Healthcare can be spread monthly from 12 to 60 months, rather than paying in one go.
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Please bring along your policy details including your scheme details, membership or policy number, expiry date and confirmation of eligibility to claim (i.e. your authorisation number). If you do not have these details with you, we will require payment from you on the day. Patients are liable for any amounts not settled by their insurer.
FAQs
Most people report mild to moderate discomfort, which can be controlled with painkillers; a supportive bra also improves comfort. Pain usually eases steadily over the first week.
Some benign cysts can be drained with a needle rather than excised. Solid or suspicious lumps generally require surgical removal or, at the very least, a biopsy to establish a diagnosis. Vacuum-assisted excision is a minimally invasive needle procedure sometimes used for certain benign lumps, avoiding traditional surgery.
The surgeon excises the lump with a small margin of surrounding tissue and sends it to the laboratory for analysis. If cancer is confirmed, the results determine whether further treatment, such as radiotherapy or medication, is needed. A sentinel lymph node biopsy may be performed at the same time, when appropriate.
Lumpectomy is usually a day-case procedure and is less extensive than a mastectomy. Most people return to light activities within 1-2 weeks, with full recovery over several weeks, depending on whether lymph nodes were sampled and whether additional treatment is planned.