Does lumpectomy or mastectomy provide better survival for women with early stage breast cancer?
https://www.facingourrisk.org/XRAY/survival-lumpectomy-versus-mastectomy
Full article: https://www.sabcs.org/Program/Daily-Schedule/Day-3-Thursday-12-10-2015
Previous research has hinted that women who have breast-conserving surgeries have the same, if not better, overall survival as women who have mastectomies. Researchers in this study wanted to see if that was true; they found that women who chose breast-conserving surgeries did have a higher overall survival. However, this study, presented at the 2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, had limitations that make it difficult to interpret the results or to extend them to all women with breast cancer. (01/19/2016)
Expert Guidelines
The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) developed practice guidelines for lumpectomy and mastectomy.
ASBrS recommendations for lumpectomy:
- Current indications for BCS are:
- A biopsy-proven diagnosis of DCIS or invasive breast cancer clinically assessed as resectable with clear margins and with an acceptable cosmetic result.
- Current contraindications for BCS include:
- Early pregnancy
- Multicentric tumor involving 2 or more quadrants of the breast
- Diffuse malignant/indeterminate microcalcifications
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Persistently positive margins of excision
ASBRrS recommendations for mastectomy:
- Current indications for mastectomy are as follows:
- Any cancer unsuitable for breast conservation, based on
- Large tumor-to-breast-size ratio
- Multicentric tumor
- Insufficient response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or endocrine therapy
- Persistently positive margins of excision
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Extensive malignant/indeterminate microcalcifications
- Early pregnancy
- Proven or suspected inherited gene mutation
- Local recurrence following breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy
- Patients with a contraindication to radiation
- For risk-reduction in high-risk patients
- Proven or suspected inherited gene mutation
- History of prior mantle radiation
- Any cancer unsuitable for breast conservation, based on
Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider
- How do I decide which surgery is right for me?
- I have been diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, should I consider genetic testing before deciding on mastectomy or lumpectomy?
About FORCE
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization, established in 1999. Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by adult hereditary cancers.