Invasive Breast Cancer: Mastectomy vs. Lumpectomy- A Difficult Decision

Each year over two hundred thousand women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. In most cases, the entire experience is both frightening and stressful. After a breast biopsy, for some, the news brings a big sigh of relief when they hear that wonderful word benign. For others, the words ‘you have breast cancer’ will forever change their lives. From that moment on, they will either be battling breast cancer or a breast cancer survivor. Along the road to survival the patient will have to make many important decisions some of which will ultimately affect their prognosis. Treatment options can be overwhelming when your life literally depends on the choices made. One hundred women were asked if diagnosed with invasive breast cancer would their treatment choice be mastectomy or lumpectomy and radiation. The vast majority of those polled chose mastectomy when scientific studies have shown the survival rate is the same when comparing mastectomy with lumpectomy and radiation. The purpose of this article is to remind healthcare professionals the decisions made by women regarding breast cancer treatment can be very emotional, confusing and difficult.