The above AI answer is pretty good, but it neglected to mention that for many cancers you can avoid radiation and/or chemo if you have a mastectomy since it is way less likely there are still active cancer cells hanging around in your chest after a mastectomy as opposed to a lumpectomy.
August 7
That's a really important question, and it's completely understandable to want to keep things as simple as possible. A lumpectomy alone — without any follow-up treatment — is generally not the recommended approach, and here's why it matters.
After a lumpectomy, there's always a chance that some cancer cells remain, even if Show Full Answer
That's a really important question, and it's completely understandable to want to keep things as simple as possible. A lumpectomy alone — without any follow-up treatment — is generally not the recommended approach, and here's why it matters.
After a lumpectomy, there's always a chance that some cancer cells remain, even if they can't be seen on imaging. Follow-up treatments are designed to address exactly that. Here's what is typically recommended after a lumpectomy and why:
- Radiation therapy — This is standard after a lumpectomy to destroy any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of the cancer coming back
- Hormone therapy — If your cancer is hormone receptor-positive, this can further lower the chance of recurrence
- Chemotherapy or targeted therapy — Depending on your tumor's characteristics, these may also be recommended
Skipping follow-up treatment could increase the risk of the cancer returning. That said, there are some exceptions — certain older patients with small, hormone receptor-positive tumors and no lymph node involvement may be able to skip radiation.
The best path forward is a conversation with your care team, who can weigh the risks and benefits based on your specific situation.
August 5
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