II. Indications: Localized Breast Cancer
- Considered optimal therapy for early Breast Cancer
- Stage I or Stage II Breast Cancer (localized tumor)
- Tumor not fixed to overlying skin
- Tumor not fixed to underlying Muscle
- Negative surgical margins
- No diffuse, inflammatory or multicentric cancer
- No malignant appearing mammographic abnormalities after surgery
- No previous radiation to the Breast or chest wall (prevents further Breast Radiation Therapy)
-
Lymph Node involvement is not a contraindication
- Lymph Nodes must not be fixed to other Lymph Nodes
- Lymph Nodes must not be fixed to surrounding tissue
- Invasive ductal and lobular cancer not contraindication
- Tumor must not be diffuse
- Requires that negative surgical margins are achieved
- References
III. Contraindications
IV. Protocol: Breast Cancer
- Tumor localization
- Biopsy of suspected tumor site
- Stereotactic needle biopsy or
- Needle localization Excisional Biopsy
- Axillary node examination
- Sentinel Lymph Node biopsy or
- Axillary node dissection
- Biopsy of suspected tumor site
- Conservative Breast Surgery
- Complete tumor excision with negative margins
-
Breast Radiation Therapy
- Follows all cases of Conservative Breast Surgery
- Radiation Therapy starts 2-4 weeks after surgery
- Timing: 5 days per week for 6 weeks
- Radiation exposure
- Entire Breast: 5000 cGy
- Tumor site: 1500 cGy (in addition to 5000 cGy)
V. Efficacy
- Survival outcomes same as for Mastectomy in early cases
- High recurrence rate unless radiation follows surgery
- References
VI. Advantages: Breast conserving surgery over Mastectomy
- Improved body image and higher treatment satisfaction
- No greater fear of recurrence compared with Mastectomy
- Lower rates of Major Depression, anxiety and Insomnia
- References
VII. Complications
- Positive tissue margins after conservative surgery
- Requires modified radical Mastectomy
- Local recurrence (5-12% of cases)
- Treated with Mastectomy
- Breast radiation changes (e.g. skin thickening)
- Wound Infection, seroma or Hematoma (<5% of cases)
VIII. References
- Abeloff (2000) Clinical Oncology, p. 2094-5
- Townsend (2001) Sabiston Surgery, p. 576-7
- Apantaku (2002) Am Fam Physician 66(12):2271-81 [PubMed]
- Chung (2002) Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 29(1):173-88 [PubMed]