What Is Breast‑Conserving Surgery?
Breast‑conserving surgery (BCS), also known as lumpectomy, involves removing only the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue rather than the entire breast. It's typically followed by radiotherapy.
Benefits
- Less invasive than mastectomy
- Shorter recovery time and reduced complications :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Cosmetically preferred by many patients :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Indications & Effectiveness
Suitable for early-stage breast cancer (stages I–II), with comparable survival rates and only slightly increased local recurrence risk when combined with radiation :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
Risks & Considerations
- Possible need for re-excision if margins aren't clear :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- Requires radiotherapy afterward, which may cause skin changes and fibrosis :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Oncoplastic techniques help improve cosmetic outcomes and reduce complications :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Recovery & Quality of Life
Patients often recover faster, retain breast appearance, and report high satisfaction. Side effects are generally milder compared to mastectomy :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.