February 09, 2011
Lifechangers: New Breast Cancer Alert on Lymph Nodes
A new federal study says drastic surgery may no longer be necessary if the cancer is detected early enough.
"Extra" Lifechanger Dr. Erika Schwartz confirmed, "In the past, a diagnosis of breast cancer involved removing lymph nodes from the armpit surgically. Today's ground breaking study tells us no longer so... less is more. Breast cancer doesn't mean extensive surgery anymore."
The Washington Post reported that the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved nearly 900 women who were treated at 115 sites across the country. Researchers found that those who did have their lymph nodes removed were no more likely to survive five years after the surgery than those who did not.