Mayo Clinic Minute: Why some patients with breast tumors could possibly avoid a mastectomy

Mayo Clinic Minute: Why some patients with breast tumors could possibly avoid a mastectomy

By
Sonya Goins

April 18, 2023

A breast cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. Now, patients with multiple tumors may have another option when it comes to fighting the disease. Dr. Judy Boughey, a surgical oncologist with the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, led a recent study that found some patients can avoid a mastectomy when it comes to surgery.

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According to a study led by the Alliance in Clinical Trials in Oncology and Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, women with multiple tumors could receive breast-conserving therapy: a lumpectomy followed by whole-breast radiation therapy, rather than a mastectomy.

Historically, patients with two or more tumors in one breast had to undergo a mastectomy. However, that protocol could soon be a thing of the past thanks to advances in breast cancer management.

"Recent studies have shown that, for patients that do have two sites or three sites of disease within the breast, that breast conservation may be acceptable and may have acceptable risks of local recurrence," says Dr. Boughey.

Patients can now discuss the less invasive surgical procedure with their health care team.

"It's a shorter procedure. It's a quicker recovery, and you can get on to your next course of therapy, in terms of systemic therapy and/or radiation quicker," Dr. Boughey says.

She also says the biggest advantage is that patients get to keep their breast.

The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Types of breast cancer surgery

For people with an aggressive form of breast cancer, surgery may be the best option. There are several types of procedures that your surgical oncologist will discuss with you.