Bleicher also shared that since there are no clinical trials that can evaluate breast conservation therapy and mastectomy for tumors over 5 centimeters, breast conservation is still not recommended for that situation. Bleicher and his colleagues analyzed the data they retrieved from women who had non-metastatic breast tumors larger than 5 centimeters who had surgery between 1992 and 2009. When you say non-metastatic, it means the tumors had not spread in another body part. Among those women, nearly 16 percent had breast conserving lumpectomy and radiation rather than breast removal.
This is the largest study demonstrating that women who agree to tissue removal can have a lumpectomy and radiotherapy to the breast, and have the same result as mastectomy, Bleicher said. The researchers in previous studies have shown a direct link between breast conservation and higher quality of life because of better body image and greater satisfaction with treatment.
According to Health.com, many surgeons may not do this kind of procedure for patients with large tumors, even when their breast size is enough to accommodate such a large tumor removal. The researchers now have information showing that breast conservation appears safe and should be an option when the surgeon feels that the patient's breast size can accommodate the tissue removal.
