Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) refers to breast-conserving surgery (BCS; ie, lumpectomy) typically followed by moderate-dose radiation therapy (RT) to eradicate any microscopic residual disease. It is an alternative to mastectomy for patients with early breast cancer.
Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) refers to an operation that aims to remove breast cancer while avoiding a mastectomy. Other terms for this operation include lumpectomy, wide local excision, segmental resection, tylectomy, and quadrantectomy.
A lumpectomy is a common but major surgery with significant risks and potential complications. You may have more effective treatment options for your type and stage of breast cancer. You may also have less invasive treatment options for noncancerous tumors.