Treatment

Several medical studies have shown that for women with early breast cancer, lumpectomy plus radiation is as effective as mastectomy in improving their chances of surviving the disease. This decision must be made between a woman and her doctor, however. The dose of radiation used is high enough to attack and kill cancer cells -- so it can also affect normal tissue surrounding the area where the cancer was removed. In most women who receive it, radiation therapy doesn't cause significant problems, but there can be early side effects, most commonly nausea and skin redness and peeling. Side effects that may appear weeks to months later include thickening of the skin on the breast and the appearance of small blood vessels just under the skin.