Just checking.

Every wonder how much trouble that conserved breast will be for women receiving breast conservation? A large combined analysis of commercial insurance (for women under 65 years) and SEER Medicare (for women over 65 years) databases evaluated incidence of breast biopsies post-breast cancer treatment. As you may have guessed, women with half the breasts had half the biopsies: at 10 years for those <65, rates were 23% after breast conservation compared to 10% after unilateral mastectomy. Interestingly, biopsy rates 5 years after brachytherapy (~25%) were higher than after whole breast radiation (~16%). Overall, about a third of younger and a quarter of older women biopsied went on to receive treatment for recurrences. So now you know.