Is radiation still needed for surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer?

Patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and some patients undergoing total mastectomy require radiotherapy. Patients who do not qualify for breast-sparing mastectomy (breast-conserving surgery) have a strong desire to conserve breasts and are generally reassessed for breast-conserving status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. If breast-conserving surgery is feasible after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, these patients should receive radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery to destroy any tumor cells that may remain. In patients undergoing total mastectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the need for postoperative radiotherapy is determined by the tumor stage prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. If the tumor lesion before neoadjuvant is >5cm or there is chest wall or skin involvement; axillary lymph nodes ≥4 metastases need to have postoperative radiotherapy; T1-2 patients with 1-3 axillary lymph node metastases can also consider postoperative radiotherapy. It is recommended that the patient should consult a specialist for further treatment in accordance with the doctor’s instructions, taking into account the surgical method, the staging before the new auxiliary, and the general condition of the body.