Concerned about your treatment options for early-stage breast cancer? Look at our free booklet made in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute.
Did Angelina Jolie make the right decision? And should that influence other women? Our president Dr. Diana Zuckerman explains why Angelina’s risk of breast cancer is lower than she was told and what the implications are for you.
Women with early-stage breast cancer can safely choose lumpectomy instead of mastectomy if they also undergo radiation treatment to reduce recurrence. However, traditional radiation therapy requires a treatment schedule that is difficult for many patients. Several newer types of radiation treatments have been developed so that more women can have the choice of lumpectomy with radiation.
Almost 25% of breast cancer lumpectomies are followed by additional surgery. A lack of agreement among surgeons, different surgical practices at hospitals, and other factors may be contributing to why some women are having too many surgeries and others not enough.
The Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund has created a fact sheet on DCIS for doctors, nurses, patient navigators and social workers. Fast Facts for Medical Professionals summarizes the NIH State-of-the-Science Conference Statement as well as the latest research on treatment options. Fast Facts was funded by a grant from the DC Cancer Consortium through the Department of Health, Government of the District of Columbia.
ALCL, a type of cancer of the immune system, is developing in the breast area of women with breast implants more often than for women who don’t have breast implants. When women with implants have breast pain or abnormalities they need to see their primary care physician or OB/GYN to have it checked out.