Lumpectomy is as effective as mastectomy in treating breast cancer, according to a new long-term study.

In dealing with a breast tumour, the surgeon may remove the whole breast (mastectomy) or just the tumour (lumpectomy). The latter operation is usually followed by radiation, to get rid of any residual cancer cells.

But which approach is best? Lumpectomy is preferred by many women, because it is less invasive. But they also need to know if it is as effective as the more radical approach in dealing with the cancer. Researchers for the US National Cancer Institute now report a long-term study of survival after mastectomy or lumpectomy, covering 247 women with breast cancer.

The women were assigned randomly to either mastectomy or lumpectomy. After an average follow up of 18.4 years, overall survival in the mastectomy group was 58 per cent, compared to 54 per cent in the lumpectomy group. This small difference is not statistically significant. Of those who survived, 67 per cent were free of cancer in the mastectomy group, and 63 per cent in the lumpectomy group - again, no significant difference. The study suggests that women can opt for lumpectomy with confidence - assuming their cancer is not too advanced.

Source

American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Annual Meeting 7th October 2002