Texas Breast Center Answers the Question, “Does Every Breast Cancer Patient Need Surgery?”

Waxahachie, Texas -

Texas Breast Center in Waxahachie, TX, has recently published a blog post titled, “Does Every Breast Cancer Patient Need Surgery?” In this article, Dr. Valerie Gorman explains that surgery is not always required in breast cancer treatment. This is because in early-stage breast cancer, research studies have revealed that chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatments are quite effective in getting rid of cancer cells and decreasing the amount of breast cancer surgery.

Due to her experience as breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Gorman understands the pros and cons of surgery. She explains, “Breast cancer surgery can significantly improve or greatly diminish a woman’s quality of life, sometimes without improving her long-term survival, depending on the particular circumstances surrounding the patient. The art of medicine and surgery for breast cancer is to match a patient’s goals and tumor features with the appropriate treatment strategy (such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, surgery, or alternative medicine) in a way that maintains or improves cancer control while preserving or improving quality of life.”

The results of two new clinical trials have indicated that early-stage breast cancer patients who respond well to targeted therapy or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy before surgery may be able to reduce the amount of surgery after radiation therapy, with only a low risk of the cancer returning. Dr. Gorman employs a de-escalation approach to breast cancer treatment with the goal of employing less treatment and interventions while producing the same outcomes. For instance, if the gene tests indicate that chemotherapy will not be effective for decreasing the breast cancer cells and there are other alternative cancer drugs, some patients may avoid chemotherapy, thus allowing them to avoid the short-term and long-term side effects.

The de-escalation approach may also mean less surgery or performing a lumpectomy that will spare breast tissue instead of a mastectomy. The purpose of the de-escalation approach is the decrease morbidity and allow the patient to have a better quality of life without jeopardizing the outcome of the disease.

A study at the MD Anderson Cancer Center has added to the mounting evidence that newer drugs are capable of fully eliminating cancer in some cases, and that very early results have indicated that they can safely skip surgery in this particular group of women with breast cancer. After a median follow-up of 26.4 months, it was observed that 31 of the 50 participants in the study had a full response to chemotherapy and did not have a breast tumor recurrence.

It should be noted that while the outcomes of the study are quite encouraging and promising, more cancer research have to be undertaken before making this a part of the routine treatment protocols for breast cancer treatment. With adjuvant therapy becoming more targeted and effective in the treatment of breast cancer, there is hope that in the future, there will be less need for breast cancer surgery.

Dr. Gorman and her staff are well-aware that a breast cancer diagnosis can be alarming for a patient. That is why they are always focused on providing compassionate care and she is committed to providing a personalized, sophisticated, and targeted approach to breast cancer treatment and breast surgery, including leading treatment regimens. She will never recommend additional treatment that is not really necessary for a particular patient but instead she will strive to determine the best possible treatment that will result into the best quality of life and results for the patient.

Texas Breast Center is the breast cancer practice in Waxahachie, TX of Dr. Valerie Gorman, MD, FACS. Her services include: breast pain treatment; benign breast disease treatment; breast cancer surgery; lumpectomy; mastectomy/ nipple-sparing mastectomy; partial mastectomy; prophylactic mastectomy; catheter placement for partial breast radiation; sentinel lymph node biopsy; diagnostic breast biopsy with ultrasound and stereotactic guidance; axillary surgery; consultations for abnormal mammograms; and genetic/ familial high-risk screening and assessment.

Those who would like to know more about breast cancer treatments can check out the Texas Breast Center website or contact them on the phone. They are open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, from Monday to Friday.