Which pair of surgical approaches are commonly considered in breast cancer management?

Which pair of surgical approaches are commonly considered in breast cancer management?

• A. Lumpectomy and mastectomy
• B. Thyroidectomy and lobectomy
• C. Appendectomy and cholecystectomy
• D. Hemicolectomy and gastrectomy

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that breast cancer management commonly revolves around two surgical strategies: removing only the tumor with some surrounding tissue while preserving most of the breast, or removing the entire breast. A lumpectomy, also called breast-conserving surgery, takes out the tumor with a margin of normal tissue and is usually paired with radiation therapy to the remaining breast to lower the risk of local recurrence. It is well-suited for smaller tumors in breasts of adequate size and when there isn’t multifocal disease or other radiation contraindications. A mastectomy involves removing all breast tissue and is chosen when the tumor is large relative to breast size, multifocal or multicentric, prior radiation limits, or patient preference for complete breast removal, with reconstruction options often considered afterward. Together, these two approaches represent the common surgical options in breast cancer care. The other choices refer to surgeries for thyroid, lung, appendix and gallbladder, or the stomach and colon, which are not standard breast cancer procedures.

The main idea is that breast cancer management commonly revolves around two surgical strategies: removing only the tumor with some surrounding tissue while preserving most of the breast, or removing the entire breast. A lumpectomy, also called breast-conserving surgery, takes out the tumor with a margin of normal tissue and is usually paired with radiation therapy to the remaining breast to lower the risk of local recurrence. It is well-suited for smaller tumors in breasts of adequate size and when there isn’t multifocal disease or other radiation contraindications. A mastectomy involves removing all breast tissue and is chosen when the tumor is large relative to breast size, multifocal or multicentric, prior radiation limits, or patient preference for complete breast removal, with reconstruction options often considered afterward. Together, these two approaches represent the common surgical options in breast cancer care. The other choices refer to surgeries for thyroid, lung, appendix and gallbladder, or the stomach and colon, which are not standard breast cancer procedures.