Lumpectomy (partial mastectomy, breast conserving therapy or BCT)

• A lumpectomy is the removal of a breast cancer and the rim of healthy breast tissue surrounding it. Most practitioners accept a 2mm rim of healthy tissue. Anything less often requires returning to the operating room to re-excise extra tissue.
• Any breast conserving therapy usually requires radiation therapy along with tumor removal. In the 1970's, a trial was performed comparing recurrence rates between women who received a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or lumpectomy with radiation.  When women received radiation with their lumpectomy, the recurrence rate was between 5-7%. Without radiation, the recurrence rate was 40%. Today, radiation can be delivered in many different ways.

Oncoplasty

• Oncoplasty is the combination of the best and latest techniques in plastic surgery for breast cancer patients.  It aims to provide the most favorable cosmetic outcome with optimal control in the treatment of breast cancer.
• Key Ingredients: 1)The surgeons DESIRE to give the patient the most pleasing cosmetic result after their breast cancer operation. 2) Surgery can be performed by a general surgeon, breast surgeon, or plastic surgeon.
• Who benefits: Any woman of any breast size who desires breast conservation.
• Often, using these techniques, a large piece of tissue can be removed and the defect repaired. This can mean anything from placing an incision in the breast where it will 'blend in' and the scar will be less visible to completely reconstructing the breast.