Scientists from the Mayo Clinic have found that patients with more than one focus of breast cancer may resort to partial breast removal in some cases. The results are presented at: meeting American Association of Cancer Researchers.
The study included women over the age of 40 who had two or three breast cancers in one breast. Breasts of 14 patients were completely removed and the rest were partially removed.
Six of the 204 patients relapsed within 66 months of partial removal. The five-year recurrence rate was 3.1%, comparable to the rate among patients with single breast cancer. The probability of recurrence was slightly higher if patients had not undergone preoperative MRI. The authors believe that MRI can provide more comprehensive removal of cancer foci.
Most patients with two or three areas of cancer in one breast are recommended to undergo a mastectomy, that is, complete removal of the breast. The results of the study suggest that women with multiple breast cancers can discuss breast-conserving surgery, a simpler procedure with a shorter recovery time, with their doctor.