Wherever possible, breast conservation therapy is practised. This is frequently the case for small to moderately sized tumours and medium-sized breasts, provided only a compact, isolated single lump is involved. For larger tumours, preliminary chemotherapy may be appropriate to reduce the size of the tumour so that subsequent breast conservation surgery becomes an option. The malignant tumour is removed along with a surrounding rim of healthy tissue. To ensure no cancerous cells are left behind, the tissue removed is examined under a microscope during the same operation to answer the question whether the tumour has in fact been completely removed. The visual after-effects of the operation may also be improved, depending on the circumstances of each case, if plastic surgery procedures are performed at the same time. During the operation it is also possible to establish, using the > sentinel technique whether any tumour cells have broken away and progressed to the filtering station, or lymph nodes located under the armpit.

To ensure breast conservation treatment has the same chances of success as complete breast removal, the patient must undergo a five-week period of additional > radiotherapy.

 

« back    next »

[Print this page]  [send page]