Expert Care Personalized for You
Breast cancer happens when breast cells grow out of control and form tumors. Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the United States. With advances in mammograms and other screening options, we’re able to detect and diagnose breast cancer earlier, which gives us the best chance to treat it successfully.
St. Luke’s Center for Cancer Care is accredited by the Commission on Cancer. We offer quick appointments if you’ve just been diagnosed or if your provider suspects you have breast cancer. We participate in clinical trials to let our patients access treatments not widely available. And we follow the same guidelines for treatment regimens as academic medical centers but faster, more collaboratively and with a more personal touch. Our team members meet regularly in tumor boards, where they work together on treatment options for our patients to ensure we’re providing the best possible care.
Types of Breast Cancer We Treat
There are many types and subtypes of breast cancer, all of which react to treatments differently. The main types of breast cancer include:
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This type of breast cancer starts in the breast’s milk ducts, which carry milk from the lobules (glands that create milk) to the nipple. However, it doesn’t spread beyond those ducts.
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): Like DCIS, this type starts in the breast’s milk ducts. However, it has spread beyond the walls of the duct into nearby breast tissue. This is the most form of breast cancer in the United States.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC): This type starts in the lobules and can spread to other areas of the body.
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): This rare and invasive type of breast cancer doesn’t have the receptors or proteins that typically help cancer spread.
- Inflammatory breast cancer: This type of aggressive cancer has cells that block the skin’s lymph vessels, which causes the breast to look inflamed, like a rash.
- Paget disease of the breast: This type of breast cancer develops in the skin of the nipple and sometimes the areola (the dark skin around the nipple).
How We Diagnose Breast Cancer
Our diagnostic process starts with a physical exam to look for anything that’s not normal, including changes to the skin or nipple. Your provider will feel for lumps in the breast, as well as in the armpits and along the collarbone. You also likely will need a mammogram to let us view inside the breast.
Your provider may order additional tests to help us identify whether you have breast cancer. These tests include:
- Breast ultrasound
- Breast magnetic resonance imaging
- Breast biopsy (a procedure in which we take a sample of breast tissue for testing
If we find that you do have breast cancer, we’ll determine what stage your cancer is in. These stages, ranging from Stage 0 to Stage 4, let us know what options are best for you as we create your treatment plan.
Our Breast Cancer Treatment Options
You and your doctor will work together on a personalized treatment plan. We’ll listen to your concerns and account for your unique needs. Your treatment plan may include:
Breast Cancer Surgery
Your breast cancer surgeon will recommend a surgical plan that best meets your needs. We offer a wide range of surgical options to treat breast cancer, including:
- Axillary lymph node dissection: Surgery to remove all or a group of lymph nodes in the underarm (axilla).
- Lumpectomy: Surgery that removes a tumor or other abnormal tissue from the breast, along with some of the surrounding healthy tissue. It's a common treatment for breast cancer and is also known as breast-conserving surgery or breast-sparing surgery.
- Mastectomy: Surgery to remove the entire breast. Sometimes other tissues near the breast, such as lymph nodes, are also removed
- Reconstruction: After lumpectomy and mastectomy, we can include plastic surgery and reconstruction to restore appearance.
Get Inspired by Other Patients
Listen to St. Luke’s patients describe how their care teams helped them through cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Medical and Radiation Oncology
Breast cancer surgery is sometimes combined with medical oncology and/or radiation oncology to give you the most comprehensive treatment plan for the best outcome.
- Radiation oncology uses high-powered radiation to destroy cancer cells or stop them from growing and dividing. Radiation is often prescribed after surgery to get rid of any cancer cells that remain.
- Medical oncology can include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy. Medical oncology is a systemic treatment option, meaning it targets the entire body.
- Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses medication to destroy cancer cells.
- Hormone therapy is a treatment that can slow the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors. Some breast cancers grow in response to hormones like estrogen. Hormone therapy blocks those hormones, which keeps cancer from growing.
- Immunotherapy is a treatment that helps your immune system fight the cancer.
- You may be a candidate for clinical trials in addition to your regular treatment.
Post-Treatment Monitoring
When you complete your cancer treatment, you’ll have regular follow-up visits with your medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and/or surgical oncologist as needed. You may need routine lab tests or other testing so we can make sure you stay healthy and cancer-free.
Complete Breast Cancer Care
Your breast cancer team is here to support you from screening to diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship. In addition to your medical and surgical care, you can access additional therapies, services and resources at any point in your cancer journey. We offer services like scalp cooling to reduce hair loss during treatment and help care for your emotional well-being. Learn more about how your care team can guide you each step of the way.