Breast Cancer
Breast Health is an Important Part of a Woman’s Overall Health
One of the most important parts of breast health is annual screening women for breast cancer. At CMC’s Breast Care Center, we provide all women with comprehensive care for both benign and malignant breast disease. By empowering women with information and education, our patients partner with their providers in making decisions about their plan of care.
Our entire team, from our fellowship-trained breast surgeon, our technologists, nurse navigators, and advocates fight and support you for your breast health and well-being.
“Day one into your diagnosis, you’re already fighting. You’re already a survivor.”
Doris, cancer survivor
Know the signs
Early detection of breast cancer often has a better outcomes and treatment options. Monthly self-breast exams are important so you are familiar with how your normal breast look and feel, even when having annual screening mammograms, so you are able to alert your health care provider if you detect any changes. Possible signs can include:
- A lump
- Breast or nipple pain
- Skin changes in your breast that include dimpling of the skin or swelling
- Nipple changes that could include dry, red, or retraction
- Nipple discharge- other than breast milk
- Swollen lymph nodes in under arm or around collar bone
Not all symptoms result in a breast cancer diagnosis, however should be seen by a health care provider.
Self-breast exams should not be a replacement for annual screening mammograms, but used together for early detection of breast cancer.
Types of Breast Cancer
Being diagnosed with cancer is overwhelming and confusing. Knowing about the type of cancer you have can help as there are many type of cancers and many ways to describe each of them.
Carcinoma is a tumor that develops on the line of an organ or tissue within the body. Most breast cancers are more specifically called adenocarcinomas, which develop in the milk ducts (duct) or the glands that make the breast milk (lobules).
In Situ breast cancer that is pre-cancerous starting in the milk duct and hasn’t spread to further breast tissue. Other names you might hear are DCIS or Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.
Invasive breast cancer starting in the lobules and has spread to surround tissue. Other names you might hear are Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) or Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC).
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) make up about 70-80% of breast cancers.
FAQs
Receptors are proteins. It can be in or on cells and attach to material in the blood. For example, some breast cancers attach to the estrogen or progesterone, and in some cases both hormones, and need these hormones to grow.
- ER Positive—is when the breast cancer has attached to the estrogen hormone.
- PR Positive—is when the breast cancer has attached to the progesterone hormone.
Knowing the status of the receptors helps in knowing which treatment options are best, keeping the estrogen and progesterone from attaching the to the receptors help prevent the growth of the breast cancer.
Her2 is a higher level of protein found in tumors, about 20% of breast tumors are positive. Her2 positive means the breast cancer is fast growing, while a Her2 negative has a better response to a medication that can target the Her2 protein.
Understanding Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer
Breast cancer 1 (BRCA 1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA 2) gene testing is available for our breast cancer patients here at CMC’s Breast Care Center. Watch this video to learn more.
The Next Step of your Journey
CMC’s Breast Care Center Survivorship Program is a specialized program designed to provide comprehensive care and support to individuals who have completed their breast cancer treatment and are transitioning into the post-treatment phase, often referred to as survivorship. The Program is designed to promote ongoing health and well-being while helping survivors transition from active treatment to long-term survivorship. Key components of CMC’s Breast Care Center Survivorship Program include:
- Survivorship care plans: individualized documents outlining treatment history, recommended follow-up care and lifestyle recommendations
- Nurse Navigator services: one-on-one support and access to certified Nurse Navigators to provide education and guidance on programs and optimal health choices that can help decrease risk of recurrence and improve quality of life and overall health
- Medical monitoring: regular screenings & check-ups
- Physical rehabilitation: rehabilitation services to address any physical challenges or limitations resulting from surgery, radiation or chemotherapy
- Emotional or psychological support: support groups, counseling and mental health services to manage stress, fear or anxiety
- Nutritional counseling: nutritional experts provide guidance on maintaining a healthy diet and managing dietary challenges that may have arisen during treatment
- Exercise and lifestyle guidance: learning how to incorporate exercise into daily routines to improve quality of life
- Peer support: connect with survivors who have had similar experiences, providing a sense of community, through annual events and outings hosted by CMC’s Breast Care Center
- Other resources & services: provide every single patient with the resources needed to after completing treatment, such as ensuring patients have transportation to and from appointments
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