Breast Cancer
Approximately one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. If detected early, nearly all breast cancers can successfully be treated. In fact, when it is detected in the earliest stages, the cure rate for breast cancer is a staggering 97%.
The journey from diagnosis to treatment is different for every woman (and man) with breast cancer. Wherever you are in your cancer journey, having access to the best resources available makes a big difference in how you fight the disease.
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Breast reconstruction is often used to restore one or both breasts to normal shape, appearance and symmetry, after going through a mastectomy or lumpectomy.
Who is at risk for developing breast cancer?
Risk factors specific to breast cancer may include your genetic background and family history, lifestyle choices, obesity, age and more.
Specific steps you can take to minimize your chances for breast cancer and potentially prevent it include:
- Routine self and physician breast exams
- Annual mammograms for women 40 years of age and older
- Smart lifestyle and health choices
- Regular physical exams
What types of breast cancer does SSM Health treat?
There are two types of breast cancer: invasive and non-invasive.
- Non-invasive breast cancer involves cancer cells contained in the breast.
- Invasive breast cancer is comprised of cells that can break away from a primary mass and travel through the blood or lymph system to other parts of the body (metastasis).
At SSM Health, our experienced care teams routinely diagnose and treat a full spectrum of breast cancers including:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma
- Invasive lobular carcinoma
- Mixed Ductal/lobular carcinoma
- Mucinous (colloid) carcinoma
- Tubular carcinoma
- Medullary carcinoma
- Papillary carcinoma
- Metaplastic carcinoma
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Paget’s disease of the nipple/breast
- Tumors of other types arising in the breast, like lymphomas, sarcomas, phyllodes tumors
- Ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) (noninvasive breast cancer)
- Lobular carcinoma in-situ (LCIS) (risk factor for breast cancer)
- Cancers associated with hereditary risk
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Although it is one of the most prevalent kinds of cancer in the US, breast cancer is highly treatable if detected early. Once an abnormality is found in a mammography or physician exam, a patient is often referred for a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, or biopsy.
This test is used to diagnose breast abnormalities discovered through a mammogram or by a physician during a physical exam. It’s effective at focusing on these abnormalities and determining if the suspicious area is a harmless, fluid-filled cyst or a tumor.
A non-invasive, diagnostic testing procedure that offers more detailed images as compared to mammography or ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applies large magnet and radio frequencies to create highly detailed images of the breast. MRI procedures do not have the negative effects of radiation that are sometimes found in other diagnostic procedures.
An image-guided biopsy is used to remove a tissue sample through an imaging method including ultrasound or MRI. It helps to locate the biopsy site before it would be noticeable to touch. These biopsies collect sample cells surgically, or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle. The sample is then tested to determine if cancerous cells are present.
A medical diagnostic procedure for viewing the internal features of the milk ducts, mammary ductoscopy is used on patients who display certain types of cancer symptoms, such as bloody discharge from the nipple. This procedure helps doctors find possible cancerous growths deep inside a milk duct gland that a mammogram might not detect. By using a one-millimeter camera, a physician can see and pinpoint the exact location of the growth and make a tiny incision to remove it along with the affected portion of the duct gland.
Used to collect tissue samples from a suspicious mass after it is detected through a mammogram or ultrasound, a stereotactic biopsy provides 2D images of the breast from two different angles. These images are closely examined on a computer to compare the data from each image and calculate the 3D breast coordinates to check for abnormalities. This information is then used to guide the biopsy needle so a radiologist or physician can accurately sample fluid or tissue for testing purposes.
Know Your Risk for Breast Cancer
Approximately one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected in the earliest stages, the cure rate is a staggering 97%.
On-the-Go Mammogram Scheduling
At SSM Health we know the importance of monitoring your breast health year-to-year, so we make getting your annual mammogram scheduled as easy as one, two, three.
How is breast cancer treated?
In some cases radiation or chemotherapy may be used in combination with a surgical procedure to treat breast cancer. If your oncologist determines that surgery is your best option, they may recommend:
- Partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) - removal of tumors and surrounding normal tissue
- Modified radical mastectomy - removal of breast and lymph nodes from the underarm
- Skin-sparing mastectomy - preserves as much of the breast skin for reconstruction as possible
- Nipple-areola sparing mastectomy - leaves nipple and areola in place during removal of breast
In addition to having a partial or full mastectomy, your cancer care team may want to remove and examine certain lymph nodes to check for the presence cancer cells.
- Axillary lymph node dissection - removal of lymph nodes from under the arms
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy - sentinel lymph node is identified, removed and examined
Are there additional therapies for treating breast cancer?
Medicine-based therapies, delivered orally or through an IV, may be part of your individualized breast cancer treatment plan and can include:
- Hormone/endocrine therapy: often prescribed after surgery or radiation treatments to block the body's production of estrogen
- Anti-hormonal pills: used to manage tumors that test positive for estrogen or progesterone
- Targeted therapy: drugs that stop the action of abnormal proteins that may cause cells to grow and divide
- Adjuvant therapy - given after primary surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells, reducing reoccurrence risk
We're dedicated to providing advanced options in breast cancer care.
- Hidden ScarⓇ Breast Cancer Surgery: this advanced, breast-conserving procedure is a minimally invasive technique using small incisions placed in hard to see areas, which limits visible scaring from surgery.
- Wire-free localization of breast tumors: prior to surgery a marker is placed in your breast tissue to guide your surgeon to the location of the cancer. Instead of using a guidewire, some SSM Health locations offer wire-free localization services that can be placed at anytime prior to surgery.
- Non-radioactive lymphatic tracers: prior to surgery your doctor will inject you with a non-radioactive lymphatic tracer. Tracers identify sentinel lymph nodes - the first lymph nodes where cancer is likely to spread - so they can be removed during your breast cancer surgery.
Please note: advanced treatments may not be available in your area, your doctor will provide you with the best treatment plan for your breast cancer journey.
Specialized care for high risk breast cancer patients.
Providers can refer high risk patients to our breast clinic in Madison, Wisconsin which provides specialized care for high risk patients in conjunction with routine screenings to manage and monitor the patient's health. To see if you qualify for a referral to the breast clinic, talk to your primary care provider.
What is the nurse navigator and how can they help me?
A certified oncology nurse, your nurse navigator, will help expedite all aspects of your care, like:
- Scheduling tests that most appropriately support your diagnosis—within days, not weeks.
- Working with you to schedule appointments, making sure all the necessary paperwork is completed, and coordinating care with various specialists.
Did you know coordinating your care increases the chances you’ll find yourself cancer-free on the other side of your journey? That's why we created the nurse navigator program.
Remember, you’re not alone. Let our Nurse Navigator at SSM Health St. Anthony help you, so you can focus on the important things: your health and your family. Call us at 405-231-2942.
What does life after cancer look like?
We're here to help optimize your function and independence.
From support groups to physical therapy, learn more about programs available to help you emotionally and physically as a cancer survivor. Learn more about what life can look like post cancer.