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A lumpectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a breast tumor along with a small amount of surrounding tissue. This type of surgery is often used to treat early-stage breast cancer. While a simple mastectomy is a larger operation, a lumpectomy is considered a less extensive surgery. Reconstruction options are typically available after a mastectomy, but not usually after a radical mastectomy, which removes more tissue. The term "lumpectomy" was first used in 1972.12

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