In August 1810 Burney developed pains in her breast, which her husband suspected could be due to breast cancer. Through her royal network, she was eventually treated by several leading physicians, and a year later, on 30 September 1811, she underwent a mastectomy performed by "7 men in black, Dr. Larrey, M. Dubois, Dr. Moreau, Dr. Aumont, Dr. Ribe, & a pupil of Dr. Larrey, & another of M. Dubois". The operation was performed like a battlefield operation under the command of M. Dubois, then "accoucheur" (midwife or obstetrician) to the Empress Marie Louise, and seen as the best doctor in France. Burney would later describe the operation in detail, since she was conscious through most of it, as it took place before the development of anaesthetics.