CHICAGO (AP) — Treating breast cancer almost always involves surgery. For years the choice was whether to remove just the cancerous lump or the whole breast. Now, new approaches are dramatically changing the way these operations are done.

Women have more options, faster treatment, smaller scars and better cosmetic results. More women are getting chemotherapy or hormone treatments before surgery to shrink large tumors. That helps spare more of the breast. Others are having breast reconstruction at the same time their cancerous breasts are removed instead of several operations later on.

Doctors are even testing a method that destroys small tumors by freezing them with a probe instead of removing them with surgery. The new trends were discussed at a recent meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons in Chicago.

 

 

 

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