It was gradually replaced by lumpectomy and whole-breast irradiation after several long-term, randomized trials showed this treatment was as effective as removing the entire breast in preventing cancer recurrence and prolonging survival.

WSJ: New Scrutiny for Popular Breast-Cancer Treatment

But after a decade of experience, it's still uncertain whether partial-breast irradiation is as effective in preventing recurrence and prolonging survival as whole-breast irradiation.

WSJ: New Scrutiny for Popular Breast-Cancer Treatment

Progress: Just weeks after our story appeared, the USDA gave the go- ahead to the meat industry to use irradiation, which destroys bacteria by showering meat with electrons, gamma rays or x rays.

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