How Early Detection and Leading Breast Cancer Treatment Save Lives.

Approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. In the U.S., about 317,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year and about 60,000 women will be diagnosed with DICS. For many, this is understandably a time of fear and uncertainty. 

However, advancements in screening and treatments mean that breast cancer is more treatable than ever. Overall, the five-year survival rate for all types of breast cancer is now 91%.  The death rate has been steadily declining since 1989 because of investments in groundbreaking research and early detection methods. Getting care from a team of specialists gives you the best chance for an excellent outcome.

There are four million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S.—getting care from a specialist team gives you the best chance for excellent outcomes.

In breast cancer, the cells in the breast grow out of control to form a tumor. There are many different types of breast cancer, each with its own characteristics. Research advances have enabled breast cancer experts to map an individualized “fingerprint” of each cancer using state-of-the-art technology. 

At MedStar Health, the breast cancer team uses this data to design and deliver highly effective, personalized treatment plans for each patient based on their unique condition.

Understanding your risk and recognizing the signs.

The first step toward proactively managing your health is to understand your personal risk of breast cancer. Some risk factors are out of your control, including:
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• Age: Only about 4% of women in the U.S. diagnosed with breast cancer are under age 40. Rates are highest in women over age 70.

• Dense breast tissue: Having dense breasts can make it more difficult to see tumors on a traditional mammogram.

• Family or personal history: Your risk is higher if you have had an abnormal breast condition or if a first-degree relative (your mother, sister, or daughter) who has had breast cancer or other cancers such as ovarian, pancreatic, or prostate.

• Genetics: Inheriting certain gene mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, raises your risk.

There are other risk factors that you can change, such as:
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• Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption raises your risk. 

• Healthy weight: Managing your weight, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular exercise can help reduce your risk.

• Environmental factors: Smoking and exposure to radiation, pesticides, microplastics, and chemicals can all raise your risk.

Just because you have one or more risk factors doesn’t mean you absolutely will develop breast cancer. It means you should control the risk factors you can to decrease your risk of developing cancer and get screened regularly to detect cancer early. Learn your risk of breast cancer with our free assessment tool.

MedStar Health offers a High-Risk Breast Cancer Screening Clinic, which can help patients evaluate their person risk of breast cancer. We counsel them on risk-reduction strategies, such as lifestyle interventions and medications such as tamoxifen, which can decrease the risk fo developing breast cancer by 50% when taken daily for five years. Individualized high-risk screening may also include the use of more frequent breast exams and breast MRIs, in addition to annual mammograms.

Symptoms of breast cancer.

Key symptoms of breast cancer to keep an eye out for include:
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• New lump or mass that may be painless but feels different from surrounding tissue

• Changes in breast shape or size 

• Skin changes such as dimpling, redness, scaling, swelling, or pitting

• A new mass, swelling, or fullness under the arm (in your armpit)

• Nipple changes, such as turning inward, tingling, itching, burning, discharge other than breast milk, or flaking 

• Pain in the breast or nipple that does not go away after two weeks

Not all breast cancers cause noticeable lumps or immediate discomfort. If you notice anything new or unusual, talk with your doctor. They can help you find out what’s causing the change, whether it’s cancer or another condition.

Related reading: When and Why Do Women Need Mammogram Screenings for Breast Cancer?

The power of early detection.

In general, screening guidelines recommend you get a mammogram every year starting at age 40. This may be different based upon your individual risk factors. Regular screening helps detect cancer when it is smaller, often before symptoms appear, which increases the rate of survival and the chance to use less-invasive treatment options.

Mammogram, a low-dose X-ray of the breast, is the gold standard for breast cancer screening. At MedStar Health, we offer advanced imaging technology, including 3D mammography. We can take several X-ray images from different angles, creating a 3D picture of the breast that helps radiologists better differentiate between normal tissue and cancerous growths. We also offer the option of Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection, and AI tool that can improve the accuracy of breast cancer detection and assist the radiologist in reading mammograms.

Personalized breast cancer treatment.

At MedStar Health, patients have a team of breast cancer specialists in their corner.  A team of breast surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, social workers, research nurses, and dedicated patient navigators regularly meet to review and discuss each patient’s care. 

Every care plan includes insights from our decades of combined expertise and the latest breast cancer research. Our dedicated breast cancer patient navigators will help you schedule appointments, access resources, and communicate with your specialists to get the most efficient and effective care.

As a leading academic health system, MedStar Health participates in national clinical trials. This offers our patients access to promising new treatments long before they’re widely available. 

Breast cancer treatment plans are tailored to each individual patient. We consider the cancer’s stage, its biological features, and your overall health and treatment goals. Most patients need a combination of treatments for the best outcomes.

Surgical treatments.

Breast cancer care can be complex, so we work together with specialists from a variety of disciplines to design a treatment plan that’s unique to you. Often, patients meet with a surgeon first to review their diagnosis and discuss treatment options.

The goal of breast cancer surgery is to remove the tumor and examine nearby lymph nodes. Your surgeon will consider several options, including minimally invasive techniques that can reduce recovery time:
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• Sentinel lymph node biopsy: Surgery to identify, remove, and examine the cells in the lymph node under your arm, to learn if cancer has spread.

• Lumpectomy: This breast-preserving surgery is the most common type of breast cancer surgery. In this procedure, surgeons remove only the tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it. We offer patients the option to have plastic surgery at the same time as cancer removal, a process known as oncoplastic surgery.

• Mastectomy: For patients with larger or several tumors, surgery to remove the entire breast may be necessary. Our surgical approaches minimize scaring and, in some patients, can include skin-sparing and nipple-sparing techniques that seek to maintain your prior appearance as much as possible.

• Immediate reconstruction: After a mastectomy, most women are candidates for breast reconstruction and many choose this procedure. Our highly-trained plastic surgeons can restore a natural appearance with techniques including autologous tissue flaps and silicone-based implants.

• Resensation: Breast resensation is a surgical nerve repair procedure that can restore sensation to the breast as part of reconstruction.

Our surgeons are experienced in related procedures, including lymph node dissection and reconstruction, and prophylactic mastectomy, also known as preventative surgery or elective mastectomy. Patients with a significant history of breast cancer or who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes may consider this option to remove the breasts and decrease the chances of developing cancer.

Cancer treatment through medical oncology.

These are medications to target and destroy cancer cells throughout the body and may include:
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• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells and kill those that may have spread beyond the breast is usually given after surgery.

• Hormone therapy: Roughly two of every three breast cancers are hormone-receptor positive. Hormone therapy can lower hormone levels or stop hormones from influencing breast cancer growth before or after surgery.

• Targeted drugs: Targeted therapy is an advanced cancer treatment to stop cancer from growing and spreading by “targeting” specific characteristics of the cells. 

• Immunotherapy: These medications harness the body’s own immune system to help fight cancer.

Related reading: Research Examines New Medicine to Treat Advanced HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer.

Radiation therapies.

Radiation therapy is one of the primary treatments for most cancers. It uses high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells It can be delivered by a machine outside the body or from radioactive material placed inside the body near cancer cells, called brachytherapy. A specialized type of radiation therapy known as proton therapy can precisely target tumors with a lower dose of radiation and fewer side effects than traditional methods.

MedStar Health radiation oncologists use specialized techniques and the latest technologies to ensure that the radiation targets the breast where the cancer was. This minimizes radiation to the heart and lungs, preventing damages to these tissues.

Comprehensive care for the whole person.

Recovery from breast cancer is a holistic process that continues after treatment concludes. 

MedStar Health provides resources to support your physical, emotional, and psychological healing, including oncology nutrition counseling, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and psychosocial services. 

MedStar Health offers a wide range of cancer support services for patients and families as they navigate the life-changing experience of cancer, providing compassionate care for the whole person. 

Breast cancer treatment at MedStar Health gives you access to the most advanced expertise in team-based care and a commitment to your well-being. Understanding your risk and getting regular screenings can go a long way toward safeguarding your breast health. With early detection, almost all breast cancers can be successfully treated, and MedStar Health’s comprehensive, patient-centered approach leads to excellent outcomes and healing.