Breast cancer treatment—current status

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Loss of a breast to cancer can have a profound psychologic effect on a woman. Within the last few years, research in breast cancer has centered on trying to find procedures that are less mutilating than but just as effective as the conventional surgical procedures discussed in part 1 (page 126). In this second part by Dr Pilch, recent and ongoing studies of a newer promising method known as segmental mastectomy are reviewed. How simple excision with irradiation is being used in early disease is described in part 3 (page 151). Part 4 (page 161) considers adjuvant therapies in early and late disease.