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Madhu J. John, MD
Kaweah Delta Cancer Care Center Visalia, Calif

JAMA. 1992;267(16):2187.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

—Chassin's Editorial¹ regarding the underuse of the breast-conserving surgery (BCS) option for early breast cancer suggests that oncologists who treat this cancer should not be concerned with the fact that the vast majority of American women do not opt for the recommended preservation procedure as suggested by Lazovich et al² in the same issue.

Progress in the management of oncologic conditions is measured not only in improving cure rates but also by finding treatment techniques that preserve anatomy and function without jeopardizing the cure rates achieved by treatment methods in which the primary tumor site is removed or sacrificed. In fact, surgical oncologists have welcomed preservation procedures in the treatment of cancers of the head and neck region, esophagus, bladder, and extremities.

Chassin suggests that physicians may be failing to communicate the BCS option adequately. I believe that more women would opt for BCS if . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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