Breast Health And Surgery In Southern New England
Overview
Center for OB-GYN offers comprehensive breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in collaboration with Brown University appointed physicians and hospitals. Evaluation of breast disease includes breast surgery, high risk screening, fertility concerns with cancer treatment, and BRCA genetic assessment and risk reducing strategies. Patients diagnosed with atypical cells, in situ disease and invasive cancer will be presented to a Brown University affiliated tumor board for comprehensive guidance for surgical, chemotherapy/hormonal therapy, radiotherapy and clinical trials.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of death among women in the United States. About 1 in 8 women (12.3 percent) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. Death rates from breast cancer have been decreasing since 1990. These decreases are thought to be the result of earlier detection from annual screening, treatment advances and increased awareness. The average age of diagnosis is 61 for women.
Screening
It is recommended that breast cancer screening tests are performed annually on healthy women with no symptoms. Screening mammogram can reveal a breast cancer before it is palpable, and can catch cancer in its earliest stage, when it is more likely to respond to treatment.
Breast Surgery
Often when a breast abnormality or cancer is diagnosed surgery is the first treatment. There are options for surgical treatment and they should be discussed with your surgeon before making a decision. When surgery is performed the surgeon will send the specimen to pathology. The pathologist will review the complete specimen to determine the cancer size, margins, and if blood vessels or lymphatic tissue are involved.
Preparing For Your Breast Biopsy
Helpful information if a breast biopsy is recommended, whether the biopsy is done by mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI at the Anne Pappas Center or Women & Infants’ Hospital in the radiology department.