Breast-Conserving Surgery for Implants

A new study has found that breast-conserving treatment is a good option for women with early-stage breast cancer who have breast implants.

Past studies showed that delivering radiation to a breast with an implant in place causes significant problems in the implant, resulting in poor cosmetic results. New techniques have changed this.

"Past research was based on a small sample of patients and older radiation techniques,” said lead author Rosalyn Morrell, M.D., Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA). "Therefore, we investigated a larger group of women treated with radiation using newer techniques that refuted the reports of poor cosmetic outcome among patients.”

Breast-conservation surgery allows women to keep their breast following cancer treatment. First, they have a lumpectomy to remove the cancer, which is followed by radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. This routine has been found to be just as effective as a mastectomy in treating the cancer and is preferred by many women. Today, more women are opting to have cosmetic breast implants. As they age, their risk of cancer increases, so some fraction of these women will develop breast cancer. These are the patients most interested in preserving their breasts and avoiding mastectomy.

In the study, researchers reviewed the records of 26 breast cancer patients with previously augmented breasts who were treated with a lumpectomy and radiation at the Mayo Clinic. All had their implants in place before the breast cancer diagnosis. Of these, 85% who were followed over a three-year period had favorable cosmetic results following radiation therapy. None suffered a relapse of cancer. The study's findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Denver (CO, USA) in October 2005.






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