Stage 0 breast cancer patients may not need to rush to surgery

Women with early breast cancer who opted to wait and see fared as well as those who had surgery

Shelley Hwang wears a lab coat. Her face is illuminated by light from a computer screen where she reviews results from breast cancer testing.

Breast cancer surgeon Shelley Hwang and colleagues have data that suggest that with active monitoring, it’s safe for some Stage 0 breast cancer patients to delay surgery for two years.

Duke Health

Watch and wait may be an alternative to surgery for some women with a very early form of breast cancer.