A 35-year-old member asked:
Is radiation treatment always necessary? as in, after a lumpectomy for stage 1 breast cancer, will a doctor always assign that you get radiation treatment, or does it depend on the patient?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

Dr. Barry Rosenanswered
General Surgery 35 years experience
Yes: A lumpectomy alone is insufficient rx for invasive breast cancer; radiation therapy is always necessary to lower the risk of local recurrence, except under unusual circumstances (ie, elderly pt w/small tumor& very poor health). Dcis (stage 0) may sometimes be treated by lumpectomy alone, depending on unique patient & tumor characteristics.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Robert Whitfieldanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Breast cancer: Lumpectomy for breast cancer is followed by radiation treatment for local control.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 41-year-old member asked:
After a lumpectomy for stage 1 breast cancer, will a doctor always assign that you get radiation treatment, or does it depend on the patient?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Dariush Vazirianswered
Breast Surgery 48 years experience
Usually yes: Most of the time rdiation treatment is needed to provide comparable longterm survival benefit in comparison to mastectomy. In women over 70 years old and if the cancer is esterogen receptor positive, endocrine therapy may be substitued with satisfactory results. You need to talk with your surgeon, medical oncologist as well a radiation oncologist to see what your particular cirmumstance will be.
5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Feb 13, 2020
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