Breast Cancer

Comprehensive & Compassionate Breast Cancer Care

A breast cancer diagnosis can be frightening and often confusing. It’s also deeply personal. It can be hard to say exactly how the news will hit you.

What we can tell you is that at Mount Auburn Hospital’s Hoffman Breast Center, we’re with you every step of the way. We offer not only the most advanced medical treatments, but also the information and support to guide you forward with confidence. Regardless of your age, sex, type of breast cancer or stage of disease, you can rely on our team to tailor your care to your unique concerns and stage of life.

Leaders in Breast Care

Through the Hoffman Breast Cancer, we provide nationally recognized Breast Health services:

• Mammography, including diagnostic mammograms
• Breast MRI
• Radiography
• Stereotactic breast biopsy, needle localization procedures and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy
• Ultrasound

Our breast cancer experts:

• Are accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.
• Have been recognized by the American College of Radiology as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.
• Were named as one of America’s Best Breast Centers by the Women’s Choice Award. This recognizes our high standards of care and above-average patient recommendation ratings.

Your Treatment Plan

Your care team will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. The plan is based on your tumor, cancer stage, age and general health. We also consider other factors, such as your desire to have children in the future. If you develop breast cancer while pregnant, we have specialists on our team who will help protect your growing baby while we treat your cancer.

Genetic testing may be part of your care plan, as well. This can help determine if your cancer is related to mutations in the BRCA or any of the other 50+ breast and other actionable cancer genes for which we can now test. If so, you may want to take additional steps for future cancer prevention. It may also be helpful to have other family members get tested.

Surgery

In most cases, surgery is the main treatment for breast cancer. Your options include:

• Lumpectomy: Lumpectomy involves removing only the tumor from your breast. It’s also known as breast-conservation surgery. At Mount Auburn Hospital, our experts are highly skilled in these surgeries. Our breast conservation rate exceeds national averages by more than 50 percent.
• Mastectomy: Mastectomy is the complete removal of your breast.

If your care team decides this is the right treatment for you, we provide you with a free Jacki. This soft, classic jacket is specially designed to make you more comfortable as you recover. The jacket features pockets that discretely and securely hold medical drains. It also offers access for medical exams and procedures. As an added benefit, it’s easy to put on and remove with one hand.

You may choose to have breast reconstruction after your mastectomy. You can do this immediately after the mastectomy or later. Members of our Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery team help you understand your options and select the one that’s best for you. Our plastic surgeons are highly skilled and use advanced techniques that provide you with the best cosmetic results. These include procedures that preserve your skin and nipple, producing the most natural-looking results.

Other Breast Cancer Treatments

In addition to surgery, we may recommend other cancer treatments as well. These include radiation therapy, and “systemic” treatments, such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapies, like tamoxifen. We give these treatments after surgery to help kill or control any cancer cells that might remain in your body.

Chemotherapy is another common breast cancer treatment. It may be given before or after surgery to shrink a tumor and make it easier to remove. If cancer has spread to other areas of your body, such as the liver or lungs, chemotherapy may be your main treatment.

Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic

When you and your care team decide you’re ready for the last phase of breast cancer care, you experience a seamless transition to the Hoffman Breast Center’s survivorship clinic. Our nurse practitioners provide guidance and support as you develop and follow your survivorship plan. The plan helps you rebuild your health and well-being after cancer treatment. Your care may include:

• Clinical breast exams
• Lymphedema management
• Monitoring for recurrent or new cancers
• Rehabilitation, including physical therapy
• Services for: 
  • Bone health
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Sexual and reproductive health issues
• Weight management