Researchers say "not so fast" to breast cancer patients who want a mastectomy
A growing number of women are choosing to get a mastectomy even for very small cancers. But a new study from the Duke Cancer Institute finds lumpectomy plus radiation may provide patients with early stage breast cancer a better chance of survival than a mastectomy.
Researchers followed more than 100,000 women and found those who underwent a mastectomy had a higher risk of dying from heart disease and other diseases than the women who had a lumpectomy.
A growing number of women are choosing to get a mastectomy even for very small cancers. But a new study from the Duke Cancer Institute finds lumpectomy plus radiation may provide patients with early stage breast cancer a better chance of survival than a mastectomy.
Researchers followed more than 100,000 women and found those who underwent a mastectomy had a higher risk of dying from heart disease and other diseases than the women who had a lumpectomy.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.