Carcinoma of the Breast

IV–The Role of Breast SurgeryBiopsyThe folly of undertaking or withholding treatment of the small breast lump without histologic study has been emphasized and re-emphasized for years. It remains folly; but this should not blind us to two facts: Excision is safer than incision. If one cannot circumincise the lesion freely in normal tissue, a simple mastectomy may in itself provide the best biopsy. One should not knowingly cut across disease in this initial approach. When cancer is obvious by all physical signs, and characteristic metastases are present, one should not endanger the patient by a compulsive desire . . .