Breast cancer is one of the leading health problems in the world and one of the most common cancers in the world. In the Republic of Croatia, it ranks third in terms of frequency, right after bronchial cancer and colon cancer. Although the mechanism of breast cancer is largely unknown, some risk factors have been identified that may contribute to the development of the disease. Some of the most significant are age, sex, early menarche, late menopause, late childbearing or no childbearing, taking oral contraceptives and a positive family history. Surgical treatment or mastectomy is still the method of choice. Surgical treatment is often accompanied by adjuvant systemic cytostatic therapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy. The very course and prognosis of the treatment depend on the phase or stage of the cancer. Due to the greater chance of a complete cure in the early stages and the reduction of the costs of expensive treatment, today's era places a great deal of focus on prevention and early detection of the disease. The aim of this paper is to present the specifics of health care for a patient with breast cancer in the pre- and post-operative period. High-quality and individualized perioperative care of the patient successfully affects the surgical treatment and the occurrence of complications in the postoperative period, and at the same time reduces the length of hospitalization. With their knowledge, competences and communication skills, the nurse/technician participates in preventive activities, but also has an indispensable role in the entire perioperative care in the surgical treatment of breast cancer.