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Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women: About 1 in 8 will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. When the disease is caught early before it spreads, the survival rate is as high as 99%.
The key to this success is a combination of advances in breast cancer screening to increase early detection and personalized approaches to prevention and treatment.
Breast cancer care at MedStar Health focuses on treating the patient, not just the tumor. This involves a personal risk assessment, access to genetic testing, and tailoring screening and treatment to your needs—while providing physical and emotional support in every step of your journey.
Understanding your unique breast cancer risk.
Every person has a different combination of factors that can affect their risk of developing breast cancer. Some cancer risk factors can’t be changed, such as:
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Your age
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Family history of cancer
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Inherited genetic mutations can increase the risk of cancer
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Your personal history of breast cancer, radiation exposure, and hormone therapy
Other factors, including your lifestyle and your overall health may also play a role in your individual risk. Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop breast cancer.
Because every person’s risk profile is different, MedStar Health offers a Breast Health Risk Assessment to help you better understand your likelihood of developing breast cancer. The questionnaire only takes a few minutes to complete. Depending on your results, your care team may recommend steps that can help lower or manage your risk.
Understand your unique breast cancer risk. Take our free health risk assessment.
Early detection starts with regular mammograms.
Mammography for breast cancer screening can detect abnormalities before symptoms develop. Finding cancer at an earlier stage can make more treatment options available.
Women at average risk for breast cancer should start getting yearly mammograms beginning at age 40. You may need more frequent or early screening based on your family history, breast density, or inherited cancer risk. If you have dense breast tissue (more fibrous tissue and less fat) or your mammogram results are unclear, your doctor may recommend contrast-enhanced mammography, breast MRI, or ultrasound to get a better view of your breast tissue.
One newer option is contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM). This exam combines mammography with contrast dye given through an IV to highlight areas of increased blood flow in the images. CEM may be helpful for women with dense breast tissue.
The role of genetic counseling.
While most (90-95%) breast cancers are not hereditary, some inherited genetic mutations can increase the likelihood of developing breast and other cancers.
Genetic counseling can help you understand your personal and family breast cancer risk. A certified genetic counselor can explain your testing options and results, and what that information could mean for other people in your family.
Genetic counseling may be particularly valuable if your family has:
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A known history of breast, pancreatic, or ovarian cancer
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A known cancer-related genetic mutation or syndrome, such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or Lynch syndrome
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Multiple family members who’ve had cancer, especially at a young age
Getting genetic testing and counseling can give you a chance to prevent cancer or catch it sooner with earlier or more frequent screening and targeted treatment options.
If genetic testing or your HRA shows an elevated risk, you can get support from MedStar Health’s High-Risk Breast Clinic to develop your care plan moving forward.
Breast cancer treatment is becoming more personalized.
No two breast cancers are exactly alike, and every patient has different health and treatment goals. Your treatment plan is a collaborative effort. We bring together specialists from across disciplines to evaluate your diagnosis, understand your needs and preferences, and recommend the most effective combination of treatments for you.
Every newly diagnosed patient with breast cancer is discussed by a MedStar Health team of specialists to ensure you have the best care plan. This team approach helps give you access to advanced treatment and reconstruction options closer to home.
Many patients will have the best outcome with a combination of treatments to stop the cancer and reduce the chances it will return. The treatment plan may include:
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Surgery: Removes the breast tumor of affected tissue and may evaluate nearby lymph nodes to determine if cancer has spread
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Radiation therapy: Uses targeted radiation to destroy breast cancer cells, often after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer returning
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Chemotherapy: Medications that kill breast cancer cells and may be given before or after surgery
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Hormone therapy: Treatment to lower hormone levels or block their effects to help stop hormone-sensitive cancers from growing
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Targeted therapy: Medications aimed at specific characteristics of breast cancer cells that help the cancer grow or survive
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Immunotherapy: Treatment to help your immune system recognize and attack certain breast cancer cells
Related: Read “MedStar Health Performs First Endoscopic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy in Maryland.”
Surgical innovations are expanding options.
Breast cancer surgery has become more precise and personalized over time. The safest option depends on your unique cancer, anatomy, and goals.
Most patients are candidates for a lumpectomy, also called a partial mastectomy, in which the surgeon removes the cancer along with some surrounding healthy tissue while preserving the rest of the breast. Depending on how much tissue must be removed, surgeons can also reshape the breast and improve symmetry.
Others may need or choose a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast. The right approach depends on the cancer’s size and location, breast anatomy, genetic risk, other planned treatments, recovery needs, and personal preferences. After mastectomy, patients may choose flat closure or reconstruction using implants or their own tissue—sometimes during the same operation.
Some patients also need lymph node evaluation to determine whether cancer has spread. These procedures are increasingly selective, helping guide treatment while reducing the risk of lymphedema, a fluid buildup that causes swelling.
Depending on your needs, newer surgical options may include:
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Nipple-sparing mastectomy: The surgeon removes breast tissue while preserving skin, nipple, and areola when it is safe to do so, maintaining a more natural appearance after reconstruction.
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Endoscopic and single-port robotic-assisted procedures: These minimally invasive techniques allow surgeons to perform nipple-sparing mastectomy through smaller or less visible incisions. In some cases, breast reconstruction can begin during the same procedure.
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Resensation®: When the nipple is preserved, eligible patients may be able to have nerves disconnected during mastectomy reconnected during reconstruction, giving them the potential to regain feeling in the breast over time.
Advanced surgery isn’t necessarily best for every patient. Standard surgical approaches are very effective options for most people. When you find a surgical team you trust and understand the choices available, you can work together to plan treatment that is both personalized and effective.
Support services: A vital part of the journey.
Breast cancer affects more than your physical health. Questions about work, finances, family responsibilities, nutrition, recovery, and emotional well-being can arise at any point.
At MedStar Health, support services are integrated into cancer care so patients and families don’t have to manage these concerns alone. Available resources include:
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Emotional support
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Nutrition counseling
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Social workers and counseling services
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Support groups
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Rehabilitation services
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Spiritual care
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Integrative therapies and wellness programs
These services can help you understand your care, manage treatment-related challenges, coordinate appointments, and prepare for life during and after treatment.
Take the next step for your breast health.
Breast cancer care continues to become more precise, less invasive, and more responsive to each patient’s needs. Many of the most important steps begin before treatment, including understanding your risk and following a screening plan designed for you.
Talking with your healthcare provider and acting now can help you prevent or eliminate breast cancer earlier, when it is most treatable.
