Experts' opinions progress and trends in the surgical management of breast cancer in Taiwan

Abstract

Objective: Radical mastectomy was first described by Halsted almost 130 years ago, and has been applied as a treatment strategy in Taiwan since the middle of the 20th century. However, due to the development of nonsurgical treatment modalities, the management of breast cancer has undergone tremendous change. This study examined Taiwanese publications between 1965 and 2020 to identify trends in the surgical management of breast cancer. Data Sources: We searched for papers published by authors from the Taiwan Breast Cancer Society and 18 tertiary referral medical centers in Taiwan. Study Selection: After excluding papers completely unrelated to surgery, there were 50 English language articles and 5 Chinese language articles available for historical review. Results: This nationwide survey of breast cancer over the past 40 years revealed the following trends in surgical management. (1) As detection rates of early-stage breast cancer increased, the amount of removed breast tissue decreased, with a corresponding reduction in percentage of total mastectomy. (2) Axillary sentinel node biopsy should be routinely performed in early breast cancer rather than axillary lymph node dissection without lymph node metastasis. (3) Since the development of gonadotropin antagonist, bilateral oophorectomy is no longer needed in the early stage in premenopausal population. Further pregnancy is allowed if the cancer is well controlled. (4) Breast reconstruction may be recommended, depending on the patients' preference, after total mastectomy for malignancy. Conclusion: Although this review of the literature may not be complete, the trends revealed in our analysis indicate that surgical management of breast cancer has become more patient-friendly, humanistic, and feasible in Taiwan. Currently, breast cancer may not have a poor outcome if the tumor can be detected at an earlier stage.