October 23, 2024- There are two surgical options to treat breast cancer: lumpectomy and mastectomy. But there are many more reasons why women choose one over another, according to Mayo Clinic. More than 2 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, according to the World Health Organization. Advances in treatment including surgical innovations are helping women and their healthcare teams personalize care and improve quality of life. Breast cancer treatment involves a surgery to remove the cancer from the breast. It’s often used with other treatments, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Surgery may also be used to reduce the risk of future cancer.
Dr. Sarah McLaughlin, of Mayo Clinic, is researching ways to improve the quality of life for breast cancer survivors. She is contributing to the establishment of a breast organoid biobank at Mayo Clinic using excess breast tissue from volunteers to speed research. Her work includes studies to predict, prevent and improve treatment of lymphedema, including identifying biomarkers and developing tailored treatment strategies.