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Taking a margin

The margin is the border between cancerous and healthy tissue. It is an area of tissue close to the tumour, which the surgeon judges to be healthy.
Taking a margin reduces the risk of leaving any breast cancer cells behind
that could grow again.
Taking a margin reduces the risk of leaving any breast cancer cells behind that could grow again. Both the tumour and the margin will be examined under a microscope in the laboratory to check that the area around the tumour is cancer-free. This cancer-free area is called a 'clear margin' or an 'uninvolved margin'.

If any cancer cells, or cells that might develop into cancer, are found at the edge of the removed tissue then you may need further surgery. This may involve either more breast tissue being removed or a mastectomy, where the whole breast is removed.

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