It's really the most innovative thing we've had in the last several years. We may be doing percutaneous lumpectomies some day. In addition, the expense of the minimally invasive procedure is about one-third the cost of surgery. Robin L. Staerkel, M.D., a general surgeon with Scottsdale Healthcare in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been using the less-invasive methods to diagnose cancer in the lining of the breast duct. When removal of a cancerous tumor is necessary, mastectomy is seldom the only option.
Advancements make lumpectomies a viable alternative for most women.
Techniques and procedures focus on preserving the surrounding area. If the node is cancer-free, nothing else is removed. If it contains cancer, the process is repeated until the first non-cancerous node is found. Combining lumpectomy with another treatment has also been successful. Research shows no difference in the long-term survival rates for women who have a mastectomy vs. those who choose lumpectomy and radiation therapy.