title: A pilot study of women's attitudes towards breast-conserving surgery with primary radiation therapy for breast cancer.
abstract: Breast-conserving surgery ("lumpectomy") with primary radiation therapy is gaining acceptance as an alternative to mastectomy for breast cancer. Currently, little is known about the specific immediate and long-range biopsychosocial effects of breast-conserving therapy as compared to more traditional mastectomy procedures. Physicians' speculations about the women who chose breast-conserving treatment as opposed to mastectomy seem to have been influenced by the scientific debate concerning the efficacy of this procedure. This study is a preliminary investigation of the attitudes and experiences of women receiving breast-saving therapy for carcinoma of the breast.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000523:psychology