MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, choosing a course of treatment can be difficult.

In today’s Health Watch, a new study from Duke University finds women who undergo lumpectomies plus radiation to treat their early stage breast cancer have better survival rates than women who undergo mastectomies.

Previous research showed the two operations produced the same results.

This is the first study to say lumpectomies with radiation can actually be a better option.

Over the last decade, more women opted to have their entire breasts removed, especially younger patients.

This study may reverse that trend.

“I think sometimes patients think because mastectomy is a bigger operation, that it means it’s better treatment,” said Freya Schnabel of NYU Langone Medical Center.

Experts say factors like tumor size and family history should be considered when choosing a treatment.