The founder and lead surgeon of Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology talks about the benefits of lumpectomies.

Lewisville, TX, – Women diagnosed with breast cancer may find more options are available to help them not only fight the disease, but also to reduce the invasiveness of associated surgeries. Research has indicated that breast conserving lumpectomies when combined with radiotherapy, show strong results versus mastectomies alone.

“When indicated, breast-conserving lumpectomies coupled with radiation have been shown in research to produce stronger results than mastectomies alone,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology. “This is tremendously encouraging news for women who are concerned about the potential impacts a mastectomy may have on their lives. Mastectomies, although quite effective, can be very difficult for women to undergo. Lumpectomies, when medically indicated, spare as much of the breast tissue as possible, taking some of the stress off the patient and her body.”

The recent study involved an analysis of some 40,000 cases. Researchers found that women who had lumpectomies combined with radiotherapy were more likely to have positive results at the 10-year mark than their counterparts who underwent mastectomies alone. The risk of death in the lumpectomy group at the 10-year mark was 20 percent lower. The 10-year survival rate was also quite a bit higher in the lumpectomy group.

An estimated 250,000 American women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year. While mastectomies are a standard form of treatment for this disease, research indicates that lumpectomies may provide a viable alternative for some.
“Women diagnosed with breast cancer should discuss all treatment recommendations with their doctors,” says Dr. Echt. “A lumpectomy may be an option for some patients, but not all. A physician with direct knowledge of a patient’s case will be best positioned to suggest an appropriate course of action.”

About Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group
The Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group has state-of-the-art facilities that offer individualized care to patients throughout North Texas. With a team of expert oncologists and other specialists on staff, the Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group treats a variety of cancers and blood disorders with an eye towards the newest advancements available in diagnostic technology and treatments.