After cancer surgery, are mammograms still necesary?
Dr. Hodges: Very much so. Once the patient has had surgery, we will perform follow-up mammography every six months after surgery – even if a woman has had a mastectomy. It’s important for a patient to return to the same mammography facility so they can compare the new images with past mammography. We will perform diagnostic mammograms and you see the doctor with the results before you leave. Part II: Treating breast cancer Q: If a woman has breast cancer, does she have to have a mastectomy? A: Dr. Barbara Ward, breast cancer surgeon: No, it’s no longer a requirement. Many women with early cancers are cured through using lumpectomy and radiation therapy. However women still do choose modified mastectomy for treatment either because the disease has spread through the breast or they feel better knowing their chance of recurrence is greatly reduced with mastectomy. For intraductal carcinoma, we still may need to do a mastectomy for multifocal disease even though it is not an invasive cance
