The founder and lead surgeon of the North Texas Cancer Center at Wise talks about this alternative treatment.

Decatur, TX – Mastectomies have long been the gold standard in breast cancer treatment, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only or even the best choice in all cases. Researchers are finding breast-conserving therapy involving lumpectomies can produce very positive outcomes for some patients without the invasiveness of the mastectomy.

“When indicated, breast-conserving therapy can offer patients the results they need without some of the trauma that may be associated with the mastectomy,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the North Texas Cancer Center at Wise. “When the therapy is two-prong, the results over the long run may even top those experienced by patients who undergo mastectomies.”

A recent large scale study looked into the effectiveness of breast-conserving therapy. The cases of some 37,000 women with breast cancer were followed over a several year period. Researchers ultimately found that women who had lumpectomies combined with radiotherapy had lower relative death risks 10 years out than patients who underwent mastectomies alone. The risk was reduced, in fact, by a statistically significant 20 percent.

‘The results are quite pleasing for patients and clinicians both,” says Dr. Echt. “Having the ability to successfully treat cancer with as little intervention as possible is the goal for most patients and their doctors.”

Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer should speak with their healthcare providers about all treatment options. Breast-conserving therapy isn’t recommended in every case, but it can offer a viable option for some. The two-step treatment involving less invasive surgery followed by radiation has been proven to successfully treat the disease while enabling women to maintain most of their breast tissue.

About North Texas Cancer Center at Wise
North Texas Cancer Center at Wise, a division of Choice Cancer Care, is now operating as the Cancer Center at Wise Regional and is one of the most renowned cancer treatment centers in Texas. The center unites some of the best cancer doctors and surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. Our expert team delivers superior cancer treatment in Texas, with the best results available.