It is now standard practice for primary physicians, surgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists to work together to plan and carry out each patient's treatment. Any one of these physicians can assume the role of "quarterback," serving as the leader for decision-making and conveying information to the patient and family and other members of the medical team.
Surgery The basic principle of breast cancer treatment is
to remove the identifiable cancer and a rim of surrounding normal tissue to make sure that there is a "margin" of safety around the tumor . The degree of excision depends on the individual. The surgeon and the pathologist evaluate the extent of the cancer and its location within the tissue that has been removed.
Very small tumors can be treated with lumpectomy . Most early breast cancers can be treated with segmental resection . Only larger tumors require a quadrantectomy.
