[Breast conserving method]

World changing trend of breast cancer surgery was reviewed historically and reasons why Japan has made slow progress was discussed. Recent worldwide discussions are without exceptions on the limited surgery and radiotherapy for early breast cancer. It is true that the breast conserving method is epochmaking in breast cancer surgery and of great benefit to patient's quality of life. But, success in the breast conserving depends solely on the well balanced radiotherapy between tumoricidal effect and radiation hazards. The author stressed the contradiction of radiotherapy and proposed the surgical quadrantectomy and axillary dissection without radiotherapy till the time comes when radiation effectiveness and hazard will be resolved. It's natural that intensive pathological examination of the resected specimen on serial sections is mandatory.