St. Petersburg, Florida -- Over 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the U.S. Many opt for a partial mastectomy to remove the cancer. But a new study finds a significant complication-- nearly 25% end up needing additional surgery.
A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds nearly one in four women need additional surgery after a partial mastectomy.
Surgeons say they're trying out difference technology and imaging to try to find a way to reduce that number.
"If I could save my breast, I would do anything to save my breast," Survivor Laura Lechtenberg said.
Partial mastectomies are one of the most common cancer operations. Doctors remove the cancer along with a margin of normal breast tissue surrounding it. But there's no clear consensus on how large that margin should be.
The FDA is looking at a new device called a margin probe. If approved, it will be used during surgery to determine if the margins around the cancer are clean. Doctors think it could significantly reduce the number of re-operations after a partial mastectomy.
If you're a breast cancer patient who has had a partial mastectomy and you've had complications, Heather Van Nest wants to hear from you. Click here to send Heather an email and share your breast cancer story. She may feature you in an upcoming Buddy Check 10.
CBS