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Breast Surgery Alone versus Radiotherapy before Breast Surgery in Treating Patients with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Trial Status: closed to accrual

This phase II trial studies how well breast surgery alone works compared to radiotherapy given before breast surgery in treating patients with ductal carcinoma in situ. Radiotherapy uses high energy rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. A form of radiotherapy for breast cancer usually given after breast surgery is partial breast irradiation. Partial breast irradiation is given only to the area of the breast where the cancer was removed. Giving partial breast irradiation before surgery instead of after may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. This study may also lead the way to future investigations aimed at omitting radiotherapy or surgery.