Revolutionizing Breast Cancer Treatment: Lumpectomy vs Radical Mastectomy

Dr. Vera Peters, a pioneering Canadian oncologist, challenged the prevailing treatment of radical mastectomy for breast cancer during a 1975 medical conference. She presented her research findings that lumpectomy, coupled with radiation therapy when necessary, yielded equally good results. This groundbreaking approach focused on getting ahead of the disease by targeting areas where it was likely to spread. It offered a less invasive alternative to radical mastectomy, which had been the standard treatment for breast cancer. Vera's study, published in 1975, paved the way for the acceptance and widespread adoption of breast-conserving surgery.