The New Era in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Within the next decade, the proportion of all breast cancers that are ductal carcinoma in situ will approach 33%, and invasive cancers will approach 1 cm in median maximum diameter. Therapy simplification will be logical because of very small size, low risk of recurrence after breast conservation, and excellent prognosis, and might include increased breast conservation, avoidance of axillary nodal dissection, and omission of radiation therapy to conserve breasts. Adjuvant therapy will be based on the prognostic features of the primary cancer and findings from careful histologic examination of the sentinel lymph nodes.