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For surgeons, removing a tumor is a balancing act. Cut out too much and you risk removing healthy tissues that have important functions. Remove too little and you may leave behind cancer cells that could grow back into a tumor over time. NIH-funded researchers are developing new technologies to help surgeons determine exactly where tumors end and healthy tissue begins. Their ultimate goal is to make surgery for cancer patients safer and more effective.

A fact sheet that describes breast reconstruction after mastectomy, including surgical options, follow-up care, and breast cancer screening after reconstruction.

A fact sheet that describes mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy, two surgeries that may be used to reduce breast cancer risk in women at very high risk, and nonsurgical options.