Have you been diagnosed with cancer?

Breast cancer treatment guideline: radiation and breast conserving surgery.
Women who are facing breast cancer surgery often have to decide between having a mastectomy and having breast conserving surgery plus radiation therapy. Breast conserving surgery is the removal of part of the breast, rather than the whole breast as in a mastectomy. Conservation surgery is an option if the cancer is small enough, if the cancer is located in one spot, if there is enough healthy tissue around the cancer (no cancer cells in the tissue around the tumor), and if the patient prefers this type of treatment.

What you need to know.
Research has shown that it is recommended that women undergo radiation therapy following breast conservation (instead of mastectomy), regardless of the woman's age. Radiation therapy can mean less risk of the breast cancer coming back in the same breast; less risk of needing another surgery, and a better chance of surviving breast cancer.

For more information, visit the web sites:
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/lumpectomy/index.jsp
http://cms.komen.org/komen/AboutBreastCancer/Treatment/index.htm