Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) is the surgical removal of a breast lump and some of the tissue around it. The lump (and sometimes the lymph nodes under the arm) is removed and sent to the lab for examination.

Breast-conserving surgery can be used in early-stage breast cancer and when the breast lump is small compared with the size of the breast. Radiation therapy is used after breast-conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer.