Breast cancer study from Duke University Medical Center

Results from the largest ever observational study of women with early breast cancer suggest that early stage breast cancer survival may be better with lumpectomy plus radiation than with mastectomy

Researchers at Duke University Medical Centre examined over 112,000 cases of stage 1 and stage 2 breast cancers. These case were diagnosed between 1990 and 2004, each resulted in either mastectomy or lumpectomy plus radiation therapy. The scientists found that in the first three years following surgery, women who had mastectomies were more likely to die from heart disease and other diseases compared with women who had lumpectomies. The overall survival rate was slightly higher for woman who had lumpectomy plus radiation than women who had a mastectomy.

The biggest effect was seen in women over 50 with hormone-sensitive cancer. Their risk of dying from breast cancer was 14% lower than woman in similar circumstances.

Stay Focused
Eric Hartzell