Procedures
Surgery for Breast Cancer
Surgery is the cornerstone of breast cancer treatment for most patients. It removes the primary tumour, provides critical information about the cancer's characteristics and extent, and — in combination with adjuvant therapies — gives patients the best possible chance of cure or long-term disease control.
At Breast & Surgical Oncology at The Poche Centre, breast cancer surgery is performed by specialist surgeons with dedicated post-fellowship training in the full spectrum of breast surgical oncology and oncoplastic techniques. Every patient's surgical plan is personalised to their diagnosis, anatomy, and preferences, and is reviewed by our full multidisciplinary team before any decision is finalised.
Modern breast cancer surgery is no longer a choice between removing the cancer and preserving the breast. For the great majority of patients, it is possible to achieve both. Oncoplastic techniques, neoadjuvant therapies that shrink tumours before surgery, and the full range of reconstructive options mean that most patients can be offered a surgical plan that achieves excellent cancer outcomes and a result they feel comfortable with.
The surgical procedures we perform for breast cancer are described in the sections below.
Breast Conservation (Lumpectomy)
For most women with early-stage breast cancer, removing the tumour while preserving the breast is not only possible but is the preferred surgical approach. Wide local excision (lumpectomy) removes the cancer and a surrounding margin of healthy tissue, leaving the remainder of the breast intact. Decades of research confirm that lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy achieves equivalent long-term survival to mastectomy for appropriate candidates. Our surgeons perform lumpectomy with a strong oncoplastic focus, ensuring that achieving clear margins and achieving a good cosmetic result are pursued together from the outset.
Mastectomy
Mastectomy — the surgical removal of the entire breast — remains the most appropriate option for some patients, whether due to tumour characteristics, personal preference, or genetic risk. Our surgeons perform the full range of mastectomy techniques including total, skin-sparing, and nipple-sparing mastectomy, tailored to the individual's anatomy and whether reconstruction is planned. Choosing mastectomy is never the wrong decision when it is the right choice for you, and our team supports every patient equally regardless of the surgical path they take.
Breast Reduction for Breast Cancer (Therapeutic Mammoplasty)
For women with larger breasts, therapeutic mammoplasty uses breast reduction techniques to remove the tumour with a wide, confident margin while simultaneously reshaping and lifting the breast. The non-cancer breast is reduced and lifted at the same operation to restore symmetry. This approach achieves superior margin clearance compared to standard lumpectomy while producing a well-shaped, natural result — addressing the cancer and the cosmetic outcome in a single procedure. It is one of the most powerful and elegantly effective oncoplastic techniques available.
Breast Conservation (Lumpectomy)
For most women with early-stage breast cancer, removing the tumour while preserving the breast is not only possible but is the preferred surgical approach. Wide local excision (lumpectomy) removes the cancer and a surrounding margin of healthy tissue, leaving the remainder of the breast intact. Decades of research confirm that lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy achieves equivalent long-term survival to mastectomy for appropriate candidates. Our surgeons perform lumpectomy with a strong oncoplastic focus, ensuring that achieving clear margins and achieving a good cosmetic result are pursued together from the outset.
Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
Oncoplastic breast surgery integrates the principles of plastic and reconstructive surgery directly into the cancer operation, planning tumour removal and breast reshaping as a single, unified procedure. All of our specialist breast surgeons have dedicated post-fellowship training in oncoplastic techniques, and this approach is embedded into our practice for every patient undergoing breast-conserving surgery. The result is wider margins, better cosmetic outcomes, and improved quality of life — without compromise to cancer control.
Breast Reconstruction
For patients undergoing mastectomy, breast reconstruction restores the shape, size, and appearance of the breast and is available to almost all women who wish to pursue it. Our surgeons offer the full range of reconstructive options, from implant-based approaches through to complex autologous procedures using the patient's own tissue. Immediate reconstruction — performed at the time of mastectomy — is available for most patients and produces the most natural results. Our practice has one of the highest reconstruction rates in Australia and our surgeons have published widely on reconstruction outcomes.