June 24, 2015 – Breast Conservation

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Anchor lead: There are a host of good reasons to choose lumpectomy over mastectomy, Elizabeth Tracey reports

Just removing a bit more tissue around the margins of a breast tumor reduces the need for reoperation by 50%, a recent study found, and David Euhus, director of breast surgery at Johns Hopkins, says that’s one more reason most women should opt for lumpectomy rather than have both breast removed, known as bilateral mastectomy.

Euhus: I am a big fan of breast conservation, and I think that’s the right procedure for most women with breast cancers that are smaller than 5 centimeters.  Sometimes if the tumors are a little bit larger we’ll do the chemo before the surgery and shrink them down so that we can do breast conservation, and I think it’s important to continue to support and encourage breast conservation especially with the lower recurrence rates, it’s less surgery, there’s fewer complications, and for most women I think that is an excellent option.   :32

Euhus says it’s worth remembering that even when reconstruction is begun with mastectomy several operations may be required.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.