Does a breast surgeon perform breast lump excision?

Breast lump excision, also called an excision biopsy, removes a lump with a small margin of surrounding tissue. The specimen is sent to pathology. A breast surgeon considers examination, imaging, any needle biopsy result, symptoms and the lump’s location before recommending this approach.

Removal may be discussed when a lump remains uncertain after needle sampling, causes discomfort, grows, or needs to be removed for a specific clinical reason. The operation may use local or general anaesthesia. The surgeon should explain the expected scar, breast shape changes, recovery instructions and how the pathology result will guide further care.

Bring your scans, pathology reports, medication list and details of previous breast surgery. Ask whether observation or needle biopsy could answer the clinical question, and why excision is being recommended. Discuss blood-thinning medicines, allergies, anaesthesia, scar position and whether a wire or image marker is needed to locate a hard-to-feel lump.

Follow the preparation instructions and arrange transport if sedation or general anaesthesia is planned. Keep the wound supported and dry as instructed, and attend the scheduled pathology discussion even if the incision is healing well.

Call the surgical team for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, wound separation, fever, pus-like discharge or pain that is worsening rather than settling. Obtain urgent help for heavy bleeding, sudden severe swelling, fainting, chest pain or trouble breathing.

Why is excision recommended in my case? How much tissue is likely to be removed, what anaesthesia will I have, and what changes might I notice? When will the pathology result be ready, and what follow-up could it require?