Breast-Conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is notably significant as it is the most common cancer in women. Recent findings indicate that breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy and axillary dissection) in early-stage breast cancer offers a long disease-free period and comparable overall survival to those undergoing mastectomy. This highlights the potential preference for breast-conserving surgery in early-stage breast cancers.
METHODS: This study included 26 patients diagnosed with breast cancer at the SSK Izmir Training and Research Hospital General Surgery Service between 20/02/2001 and 11/11/2004. Factors such as medical considerations, cosmetic results, patient age, patient preference, mammographic findings, tumor size and number, condition of axillary lymph nodes, and histopathological findings were considered. Breast-conserving surgery was performed, followed by a retrospective analysis of these patients.
RESULTS: This study analyzed local control and survival outcomes in 26 patients diagnosed with early-stage (Stage 1-11) breast cancer, with a median follow-up of 3.9 years between 20/02/2001 and 11/11/2004. The median follow-up period for the patients was 45 months. Quadrantectomy+axillary dissection was performed in 20 patients, and Lumpectomy+axillary dissection in 6 patients. All 26 patients received radiotherapy with a dose of 46-50 Gy (2 Gy/day).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Reviewing the article with current publications, Lancet in December 2019 supports whole breast irradiation after breast-conserving surgery for early-stage breast cancer. A 2011 randomized controlled trial reported excellent long-term outcomes for invasive ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences following lumpectomy, particularly after radiation therapy and tamoxifen-sparing surgery. These findings strongly suggest that breast-conserving surgery combined with radiotherapy is equivalent to mastectomy.