Lumpectomy
A lumpectomy is breast-conserving surgery that removes the whole tumor while saving as much breast tissue as possible. Other names for the procedure include partial mastectomy, wide excision, segmental mastectomy, quadrantectomy and tylectomy. Afterhealing from the surgery has begun, radiation therapy is recommended to reduce the likelihood that cancer cells remain in the breast.
Studies comparing lumpectomy plus radiation with mastectomy have shown little to no difference in survival rates (1, 2). Visit Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy to read more.
Would you like to talk with someone who has had a lumpectomy? Call the Y-ME Hotline at 800-221-2141 and speak with a trained peer counselor who is a breast cancer survivor.
1. Fisher, B., Anderson, S., Bryant, J., Margolese, R. G., Deutsch, M., Fisher, E. R., et al. (2002). Twenty-year follow-up of a randomized trial comparing total mastectomy, lumpectomy, and lumpectomy plus irradiation for the treatment of invasive breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(16), 1233-1241.
2. Veronesi, U., Cascinelli, N., Mariani, L., Greco, M., Saccozzi, R., Luini, A., et al. (2002). Twenty-year follow-up of a randomized study comparing breast-conserving surgery with radical mastectomy for early breast cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(16), 1227-1232.
November 2007
