Radical Excision of Metastatic Lesions

Surgery is not commonly used to treat metastatic breast cancer, but in some cases, it is appropriate to control symptoms of bleeding or pain. Metastatic breast cancer [link to breast cancer stage IV page] means it has spreads beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes.

Radical excision is removal of both the breast derived tumor (no longer in the breast) and some surrounding normal tissue. The removal of the nearby normal appearing tissue greatly reduces the chance of the cancer returning at that site. Once breast cancer is metastatic, surgery is not the main component of treatment. The surgeon will work with other doctors (medical oncologist and/or radiation oncologist) to plan the treatments that will best control the cancer and associated symptoms.

Locations and Breast Specialists