A Review of the Outcomes of Breast Conserving Surgery in Primary Breast Cancers

Dr. Abhiram Chadive, Dr. Rajesh Gattani, Dr. A Lakshmi Sai Vijay, Ankita Thakur

Abstract: Breast cancer is globally predominant cancer found in females, where surgery remains the primary treatment. Though mastectomy has been a primary modality in the therapeutics of breast cancer, this usually leads to some profound physical and physiological changes, including gross disfigurement and prolonged periods of recovery. Breast - conserving surgery (BCS), also called lumpectomy, is a less invasive treatment that allows the conservation of breast tissue and body image, having survival rates similar to mastectomy when post - operatively associated with radiation therapy. The development of BCS started in the 1950s, and since then, it has been confirmed in many large studies and is recognized as a basic therapeutic for primary breast cancer. This review looked at the BCS outcomes regarding survival, recurrence, and patient satisfaction. In this respect, several studies have shown that BCS, especially when combined with radiation, supports an equivalent or improved survival compared to mastectomy. Besides, locoregional recurrence rates are low with BCS, and psychological results are better, hence very attractive to many patients. The oncoplastic techniques, associating tumor removal with immediate breast reconstruction, further improve the cosmetic and oncological outcomes of BCS. Available evidence supports oncoplastic BCS as a trustworthy and efficient replacement for mastectomy since results showed low recurrence rates and high patient satisfaction. This narrative review directs attention to a more individualized treatment plan with consideration of factors, such as cancer biology, patient age, and preferences, that may have different goals for breast cancer surgery and achieve the best possible outcomes.

Keywords: Breast cancer, breast constructive surgery, Lumpectomy, Mastectomy, Oncoplastic breast constructive surgery