October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a team of researchers from the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita has an important message: When it comes to breast cancer treatment, more surgery isn't always better.

Their study, “Choosing Wisely in Rural America: Surgical Management of the Axilla in Elderly Patients with Clinically Node-Negative, Hormone Receptor-Positive Invasive Breast Cancer,” examines whether surgeons are following national recommendations to avoid unnecessary lymph node surgery in selected older women with breast cancer.

The research was presented at the 2026 American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting in Seattle and has now been accepted for publication in “Annals of Surgical Oncology,” a prestigious peer-reviewed journal.

For women aged 70 and older with certain early-stage breast cancers, sentinel lymph node biopsy may offer little additional benefit. Despite national recommendations supporting omission of the procedure in appropriately selected patients, many women continue to undergo the surgery.

The KU Wichita team investigated surgical practices across the United States, focusing on whether adherence to these recommendations differs between rural and urban communities.

The project was a collaborative effort involving KU Wichita general surgery resident graduates Kristina Fraser, D.O., and Ashley Wilbers, M.D.; KU Wichita Department of Surgery research scientists Jared Reyes, Ph.D., and Stephen Helmer, Ph.D.; and me.

This research addresses an important issue in breast cancer care. Our goal isn't simply to perform less surgery. It's to make sure every procedure we perform provides meaningful benefit to the patient.

Beyond its clinical significance, the publication highlights the opportunities for general surgery residents at KU Wichita to participate in meaningful research with national impact.

Seeing research that began with our residents presented at a national meeting and accepted by a respected oncology journal is incredibly rewarding. It's a wonderful example of what our residents can accomplish through collaboration, curiosity and hard work.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month encourages conversations about screening, early detection and treatment, this research reinforces another important principle: The best cancer care isn't always about doing more. It's about doing what's right for each patient.

Patty Tenofsky, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor, Breast Surgeon
KU School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Surgery