[Conservative management of breast cancer]

Numerous reports have been published concerning conservative treatment of breast cancer in western countries. The survival rates of the treatment are similar to those for radical surgery, but the functional and cosmetic results are much better in the conservative treatment than in radical surgery. Thirty years ago, our hospital encountered 69 cases of conservative treatment for breast cancer. Satisfactory results were obtained. Ten-year survival rates for stage I and II were 76% and 65%, respectively. Recent methods of surgery and radiotherapy for conservative treatment of breast cancer are discussed.