Halsted Program

The Halsted Program was an early 20th-century approach to breast cancer surgery developed by surgeon William Halsted. It emphasized extensive removal of both the tumor and surrounding healthy tissue, including lymph nodes, to reduce the chance of cancer returning. This method, called radical mastectomy, aimed to eliminate as much cancer as possible in a single operation. Over time, less invasive procedures have been developed, but the Halsted Program was significant in establishing surgical principles for thorough cancer removal and influenced modern cancer treatment strategies.