Kevin Hughes on the Effects of Lumpectomies for Older Patients

Kevin Hughes, MD, FACS, breast surgeon, Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses the impact of lumpectomies on elderly patients with breast cancer.

While patients may feel the effects of anesthetics for up to two weeks and should avoid lifting or stretching much after the surgery, a lumpectomy is actually a minimal-impact procedure, Hughes says. In fact, patients are usually back in their home and going about their usual business in a few days.