Breast Conserving Therapy is the most common form of breast cancer surgery today. The surgeon removes only the part of your breast containing the cancer and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it (Lumpectomy or Wide Excision or Partial Mastectomy). All the tissue removed from your breast is examined carefully to see if cancer cells are present in the margins. If cancer cells are found in the margins - extending out to the edge of the breast tissue that was removed - your surgeon will do additional surgery (called re-excision) to remove the remaining cancer. This occurs in up to 10% of cases. In preparation for breast conserving surgery an MRI is occasionally performed for planning purposes. Sometimes preoperative chemotherapy or anti estrogen therapy is given to try to shrink the cancer enough to make breast conserving surgery more likely to be successful. Most women then receive radiation therapy to eliminate any cancer cells that may be present in the remaining breast tissue. After BCT close mammographic and clinical follow up is necessary to monitor for local recurrence.

Breast Conserving therapy is appropriate for women
• Who have only one cancer in the breast
• Whose cancers can be removed without removing too much of the breast.
• When clear margins can be obtained
• Who have no contraindications to radiation post operatively
• Who are committed to careful clinical follow up

NOTE: Whether mastectomy or breast conserving surgery is performed, systemic therapy is often offered as well. Most patients will see a medical oncologist to discuss systemic treatment which could include such treatments as chemotherapy, anti-estrogen therapy, and/or gene therapy.