Lumpectomy: Understanding Your Options
and Lighting the Path Forward
Expert Guidance from Dr. Barry Rosen, Senior Medical Advisor
Lumpectomy is About More Than Surgery —
It’s About Supporting You Through Every Choice
Choosing breast cancer surgery is one of the most personal decisions you will ever make. For many women, the idea of “saving the breast” brings comfort; for others, removing as much as possible feels like the safest path. There is no right or wrong answer—only the decision that feels right for you.
A lumpectomy, also called breast-conserving surgery, is one option that offers both healing and preservation. And today, advances in surgical technology are giving surgeons clearer guidance than ever before—helping them remove cancer with greater precision while protecting as much healthy tissue as possible.
At Learn Look Locate, we’re honored to share this page with Dr. Barry Rosen, Senior Medical Advisor and Breast Surgical Oncologist. With deep experience guiding women through this moment, Dr. Rosen helps patients understand not only what a lumpectomy is, but also why it may be the right choice, how surgeons plan the procedure, and how they determine that the cancer has been fully removed. The following information is educational only. Please consult with your healthcare provider on the right treatment path for you.
Think of this lumpectomy resource as a lantern—gently lighting your path as you navigate the emotions and choices ahead.
Why Choose a Lumpectomy?
Deciding on breast surgery is not just a medical decision—it’s an emotional one. Many women find themselves weighing fear, hope, identity, body image, and trust in their care team all at once. A lumpectomy is often chosen because it offers effective cancer treatment while preserving the breast.
As Dr. Rosen shares:
“We treat the cancer with precision while
honoring the woman’s sense of self.”
Lumpectomy followed by radiation has survival rates comparable to mastectomy. Thanks to ongoing advances in surgical tools and intraoperative guidance, surgeons today have more clarity than ever before when aiming for clear margins. Lumpectomy is not “less treatment.” It is a different approach—one that blends precision, preservation, and confidence.
Who Is a Candidate for a Lumpectomy?
A lumpectomy may be recommended when:
- The tumor is small enough relative to breast size to allow good cosmetic results
- The cancer is located in a single area of the breast
- Surgeons believe clear margins can be achieved safely
- Radiation therapy after surgery is appropriate
- There are no medical reasons that would make breast-conserving surgery unsafe
Many women are reassured to learn that lumpectomy plus radiation is as effective as mastectomy for many breast cancers.
As Dr. Rosen explains:
“The goal is to remove all of the cancer—not the entire breast.”
Benefits of a Lumpectomy
A lumpectomy offers both physical and emotional benefits, including:
- Breast Preservation
Keeping most of your natural breast can bring comfort and a sense of continuity during treatment.
- Proven Effectiveness
Lumpectomy with radiation provides long-term survival outcomes comparable to mastectomy in many cases1.
- Quicker Recovery
Most women experience shorter healing times, easier mobility, and a faster return to daily life.
- Personalized Precision
Surgeons use imaging, careful planning, and innovative technologies to accurately identify and remove cancerous tissue.
- Emotional Empowerment
For some women, preserving their breasts feels like reclaiming something deeply personal at a moment when so much feels uncertain.
How Do Surgeons Know They Got All the Cancer?
Surgeons aim to remove the tumor with clear margins, meaning no cancer cells are found at the outer edges of the removed tissue. After surgery, a pathologist examines the margins under a microscope.
What the Results Mean
- Clear (negative) margins — No cancer at the edge of the specimen, so the likelihood of the cancer returning is low.
- Close margins — Cancer is near the edge; next steps may vary.
- Positive margins — Cancer reaches the edge; a second surgery may be recommeded.
What Are Negative Margins?
When your pathology report shows negative margins, it means the tissue removed during your lumpectomy has no cancer cells at the outer edge. This is the ideal outcome.
Negative margins often mean:
- No additional surgery is needed
- The tumor was successfully removed with a healthy border of tissue
- Your next steps—such as radiation—can move forward with clarity
How Surgeons Aim for Clear Margins During Surgery
Before entering the operating room, your care team uses:
- Mammograms
- Ultrasound
- MRI when needed
- Localization tools (wire, seed, magnetic markers)
During surgery, surgeons combine this with:
- Tactile skill and experience
- Real-time assessment tools
- Careful tissue orientation
- Collaboration with pathology
Still, cancer cells at the margins can be difficult to see. Surgeons have long hoped for technology that could provide clearer guidance in real time.
That next chapter is now emerging.
See what matters most.
Illuminate breast cancer in real-time.
As lumpectomy continues to evolve, many surgeons are integrating innovative technologies designed to enhance precision and support clearer decision-making in the operating room. Innovations like LumiSystem™ are part of this next chapter—bringing real-time visibility to tissue that has historically been difficult to assess during breast-conserving surgery.
What is LumiSystem?
LumiSystem uses fluorescence guided imaging to help surgeons look inside the breast during your surgery to check for cancer that might have been missed – giving them a better chance to remove it all the first time.
Is it accurate?
Clinical trial results showed that LumiSystem correctly identified when cancer was present (true positive) and when cancer was not there (true negative) with an accuracy of 84%2.
How does it work?
Before your surgery, you will be given a special imaging agent called LUMISIGHT (pegulicianine) through a simple injection. On its own, LUMISIGHT is like a light switch that’s turned off – it doesn’t glow yet. But here’s where it gets smart… Cancer cells and some nearby immune cells release special enzymes that help the tumor grow and spread. LUMISIGHT is designed to detect those enzymes. When LUMISIGHT comes into contact with them, it “switches on” – lighting up the suspicious tissue with a special fluorescent signal (a kind of light) that the surgeon can see only when using the LumiSystem camera during surgery.
Why does it matter?
As mentioned above, the surgeon is aiming to remove your tumor with clear margins, with no cancer cells left on the outer edges of the tissue removed. The glowing effect from LUMISIGHT helps the surgeon spot cancerous tissue more clearly in real time – making it easier to remove what’s needed and potentially reduce your chance of needing a second surgery.
How do I find this?
Learn more about LumiSystem here.
Important Safety Information
The most common side effects with LUMISIGHT(TM) (pegulicianine) are hypersensitivity and an abnormal color in urine. LUMISIGHT may cause serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. Please see the LUMISIGHT Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, and Lumicell DVS Instructions for Use.
For complete product information, visit www.LumiSystem.com.
Clarity Matters
Most Right Now
A new diagnosis brings uncertainty, but understanding your surgical options can bring a sense of steadiness. Advances like LumiSystem are giving surgeons clearer guidance in the operating room—and giving women more confidence during a moment that can feel overwhelming.
As Dr. Rosen often reminds his patients:
“You deserve to understand every option available to you, and to feel supported in choosing the path that’s right for your body and your life.”
About the Expert
Dr. Barry Rosen is a nationally recognized breast cancer surgeon with over 25 years of experience. As a leading expert in oncoplastic surgery, Dr. Rosen has dedicated his career to advancing breast cancer treatment while ensuring patients achieve optimal aesthetic outcomes. He serves as the Senior Medical Advisor for Learn Look Locate, where he continues to share his expertise with the breast cancer community.
Expert Insights
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lumpectomy as effective as mastectomy?
What does “negative margins” mean?
Negative margins mean no cancer cells were found at the outer edge of the removed tissue. This is the intended goal of lumpectomy and often means no additional surgery is needed.
Will I need radiation after a lumpectomy?
How long does lumpectomy surgery take?
Typically 60–90 minutes, though longer if lymph nodes are evaluated.
Is lumpectomy outpatient?
Yes. Most patients go home the same day.
What will recovery feel like?
Expect mild soreness, temporary fatigue, and a gradual return to normal activity over several days.
What if my margins aren’t clear?
How does LumiSystem help surgeons?
LumiSystem provides real-time information about the tissue left behind after tumor removal, helping surgeons identify areas that may need additional attention.
What questions should I ask my surgeon?
What are my surgery options?
How large is my tumor relative to my breast size?
What is the likelihood I’ll need a second surgery?
Would I benefit from technologies that help assess margins in real time?
What will recovery and radiation look like for me?
What is your re-excision rate?
Important Safety Information:
What is LUMISIGHT (pegulicianine) and Lumicell DVS?
- LUMISIGHT (pegulicianine) is an optical imaging agent and Lumicell DVS is a fluorescence imaging device. LUMISIGHT and Lumicell DVS, in combination, are used in adults with breast cancer to help detect any remaining cancerous tissue at the surgical site following removal of the primary specimen during a lumpectomy procedure.
What is the most important information to know about LUMISIGHT?
- Hypersensitivity Reactions: LUMISIGHT may cause serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis has occurred in 4/726 (0.6%) of patients in clinical studies. Tell your doctor if you have any history of hypersensitivity reactions to pegulicianine or to contrast media or products containing polyethylene glycol (PEG). Your healthcare provider should have emergency resuscitation drugs, equipment, and trained personnel available during the use of LUMISIGHT. Healthcare providers should monitor all patients for hypersensitivity reactions and if one is suspected, immediately discontinue the injection and initiate appropriate therapy.
- The most common side effects (≥1%) include hypersensitivity and an abnormal color in urine.
What additional important information should I know about LUMISIGHT and Lumicell DVS?
- Adjunctive Use: Lumicell DVS is for use as part of the lumpectomy procedure and is not a replacement for the standard of care lumpectomy procedure and pathology.
- Risk of Misdiagnosis: The absence of a signal in surgery does not rule out cancer. Additionally, a positive signal may be seen in noncancerous tissue.
- Interference from Dyes Used for Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping: Your healthcare provider should avoid use of dyes before imaging the lumpectomy cavity in patients who have received LUMISIGHT.
- Other Risks: Using the Lumicell DVS handheld probe may cause tissue damage or infection.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see the LUMISIGHT Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, and Lumicell DVS Instructions for Use. For complete product information www.LumiSystem.com.
References
1. de Boniface J, Szulkin R, Johansson ALV. Survival After Breast Conservation vs Mastectomy Adjusted for Comorbidity and Socioeconomic Status: A Swedish National 6-Year Follow-up of 48 986 Women. JAMA Surg. 2021;156(7):628–637. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2021.1438
2. Smith et al., NEJM Evidence 2, no. 7 (June 27, 2023). https://doi.org/10.1056/EVIDoa2200333
LUMISYSTEM™, LUMISIGHT™, and LUMICELL® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lumicell, Inc.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
With financial support from Lumicell, Learn Look Locate is honored to bring forward this educational resource to help patients better understand their lumpectomy choices.
This content has been medically reviewed by:
Barry Rosen, MD, FACS
Breast Surgical Oncologist and Senior Medical Advisor for Learn Look Locate
