For recurrent breast cancer, mastectomy better than lumpectomy

If you opted for a lumpectomy for breast cancer treatment and your cancer returns, a new study recommends that you not get a second lumpectomy but that you opt for a mastectomy. The 5-year survival rate of women who had mastectomies is quite a bit higher than those who had lumpectomies.

In a study of 747 women who had recurring breast cancer in the same breast, researchers found that 24% opted for a second lumpectomy. However, they also found that the 5-year survival rate after a second lumpectomy was only 67% compared to the rest of the women who had mastectomies. Their survival rate was 78%.

Of course, your options should be discussed with your doctor and every case is different. This type of information is just to help you learn more about your options and what some of the issues are that are involved.

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Tags: cancer blog, breast cancer, lumpectomy, recurrent breast cancer, mastectomy