Breast conservation therapy versus mastectomy in the community-based setting: can this rate be used as a benchmark...

Despite strong evidence supporting the use of breast conservation therapy (BCT) in the treatment of breast carcinoma, the actual rates of use remain low. This article is a retrospective review of a sample of patients from the cancer registry of the Carolinas Medical Center (CMC), comparing breast conservation and mastectomy rates during an 11-year period. BCT rates have increased in CMC during this time frame and have reached national levels. Further research is needed to determine whether BCT rates can be used as a benchmark for the care of patients with cancer.