After my breast biopsy revealed cancer, my surgeon agreed to do a lumpectomy to see if he could get clear margins around my tumor. He explained the importance of getting all the cancer, but all I was focused on was keeping my breast.
When you're faced with the decision between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy, you may be feeling pretty stressed and confused. Understanding more about surgical margins can help you get a better handle on which may get you closer to a cure.
Get Some Expert Advice on Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy
In order to understand more about surgical margins and treatment decisions, I looked up what the experts say in UpToDate -- a trusted electronic reference that is used by many of the oncologists who treat breast cancer patients.
If you're facing this decision –- lumpectomy or mastectomy –- you will need to know how the state of your surgical margins comes into the total equation. Start by reading this excerpt to see why surgical margins are important for you.
Microscopic Examination of the Tumor: A Discussion on Surgery Options
"Microscopic examination of the tissue removed during a biopsy or during surgery may identify features that influence the recommendation for BCT [breast conserving therapy] versus mastectomy. One of these features is the presence of residual cancer cells at the edges of the tumor (the surgical margins). If residual cancer cells are present despite a large amount of tissue being removed, mastectomy may be preferable."
Getting the Message About Surgical Margins
Illustration © Pam Stephan
What Are Surgical Margins?
When your tumor is biopsied or surgically removed, your surgeon takes out more than just the tumor –- some tissue around the tumor is also taken. This border of tissue between the outer edge of the sample and the tumor is called the surgical margin. After your surgeon removes the tissue, it is carefully enclosed in a container and sent to the pathology lab. The pathologist uses a special ink to cover the outer edge of the entire tissue sample. Then the sample is sliced into thin sections and examined under a microscope. The edges, as well as the margins, are checked to see if any cancer cells have strayed outside the tumor and, if so, how far they have gone.
Understanding Terms Doctors Use to Describe Surgical Margins
Illustration © Pam Stephan
There are general guidelines, but the definition of negative or clear margins may vary from one hospital or clinic to another. These three terms are used to describe the margins:
- Negative Margin: no cancer cells at the outer inked edge of the tissue
- Positive Margin: cancer cells or tumor extends to the edge of the sample
- Close Margin: any situation in between negative and positive
When Surgical Margins Contain Cancer
Illustration
Negative Margins and Treatment Decisions
If you've had a biopsy, your tumor is small (under 4cm), and your surgical margins are clear, then a lumpectomy may be all the breast surgery that you need (although, you may still elect for a mastectomy). If a lumpectomy is chosen, radiation therapy to the remaining breast is offered to prevent recurrent cancer.Your lymph node status must also be checked; if they free of disease, you likely won't need radiation treatment to that location after surgery. If they are not clear, your oncologist may recommend radiation. When you have completed radiation, if required, and if you had estrogen sensitive cancer, then you would take hormonal therapy for 5 years to prevent a recurrence elsewhere in the body.
Take-Home Message
You need to know if your surgical margins were negative, positive, or close. This, along with cancer type, stage and lymph node status, will help you and your doctor choose the most effective treatment for you.
Want to learn more? See UpToDate’s topic, "Surgery for breast cancer: mastectomy and breast conserving therapy: Microscopic examination of the tumor," for additional in-depth, current and unbiased medical information on breast cancer, including expert physician recommendations.
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Source:Daniel F Hayes, Michael S Sabel, MD. "Surgery for breast cancer: mastectomy and breast conserving therapy: Microscopic examination of the tumor," UpToDate. Accessed: January 2009.
