Is mastectomy a better treatment for breast cancer than lumpectomy?
Women who choose lumpectomy and radiation can expect the same chance of survival as those who choose mastectomy. The advantage of lumpectomy is that it saves the appearance of the breast. A disadvantage is the need for several weeks of radiation therapy after surgery. However, some women who have a mastectomy will still need radiation therapy. When considering mastectomy, you must consider how you feel about losing your breast and whether you want to undergo additional surgery to reconstruct your breast. In determining the preference for lumpectomy or mastectomy, be sure to get all the facts. Though you may have a gut feeling for mastectomy to “take it all out as quickly as possible,” the fact is that doing so does not provide any better chance of long term survival or a better outcome from treatment in most cases. According to research studies over 2 decades, mastectomy does not provide a better chance of survival than lumpectomy.
