The study out of MD Anderson reporting ‘double the mastectomy rate’ for patients treated with accelerated partial breast irradiation compared to whole breast irradiation, has created a tremendous amount of angst in the lay and medical press.  Studies such as these that rely on large retrospective databases can provide interesting data although it all depends on the quality of data entered and how it is extracted.

As co-principle investigator of The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBS) Mammosite Registry we have prospectively followed patients and retrospectively analyzed the data.  However, we have not seen the same high complication or mastectomy rates as this study reported.

Perhaps the MDAnderson study speaks to patients being cared for by breast cancer specialists with our low complication/recurrence rates.

Read more here…

Physicians React to MD Anderson Study on Partial Breast Radiation is a post from: Dallas Surgical Group

“Before the advent of sentinel node biopsy essentially all women with invasive cancer had to have a complete axillary lymph node dissection…. So in the course of less than 15 years, we have gone from 100% of women with invasive cancer having a complete dissection to around 10% – that is tremendous progress in lessening the morbidity of breast cancer surgical treatment.”  Dr. Peter Beitsch

For more:  http://www.ciannamedical.com/about_savi/newsletter/1011.htm

15 years ago 100% of women had complete node dissection now only 10% – that’s progress! is a post from: Dallas Surgical Group

A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and published online by the NEJM indicates Exemestane, which is now used to prevent recurrences of breast cancer, can also reduce the risk of it occurring in the first place.

To read the full text you can go to:  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1103507

Breast Cancer Prevention in Postmenopausal Women is a post from: Dallas Surgical Group