We know how difficult it is to hear that you've been diagnosed with breast cancer. There is a flurry of emotions, which can seem hard to navigate. But you can rest assured that we're here for you at AdventHealth. Although breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women, there is hope in knowing breast cancer is very treatable if caught early and approached with proper treatment.
At AdventHealth, we care for all of you in body, mind and spirit. Our expert care team and surgeons will be with you every step of the way, from your diagnosis to treatment and beyond. You can trust us to provide you with whole-person health care while we partner with you in facing your diagnosis.
We’re here with our expert at AdventHealth Palm Coast, general surgeon Jessica Marshall, DO. Dr. Marshall is here to answer some of your frequently asked questions about breast cancer and surgical options for patients. Keep reading to hear from Dr. Marshall.
What is breast cancer?
Dr. Marshall: Cancer is essentially a disease of cellular overgrowth. It’s a term we use when cells of the body grow uncontrollably and abnormally in such a way that they cause injury to nearby tissue, and this disease process can grow and spread to other organs or body parts. There are different types of cancer.
How does breast cancer develop?
Dr. Marshall: Breast cancer can develop in different parts of the breast tissue. Our breasts are comprised of various tissue types, including ducts, lobules, nipples and the areola. There are also nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, fatty tissue, and connective tissue. The most common type of breast cancer develops from the ducts, which are small channels that emanate out from the lobules, which are the part of the breast that is composed of the glands that produce milk. The ducts carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple, and this is the most common place for breast cancer to start. This is called ductal carcinoma.
Cancer of the lobules is called lobular carcinoma, which is the second most common type of breast cancer. The other parts of the breast can develop cancers as well, but they are less common.
What are the risk factors for developing breast cancer?
Dr. Marshall: The two largest risk factors for breast cancer include being female and age. These, of course, are two things we cannot control. Some people may also be genetically predisposed to breast cancer, so it is important to take a family history and be aware of any family members with a diagnosis of breast cancer or ovarian cancer. It is also important to make note of any family members who have been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas, prostate, or skin, especially melanomas, especially any relatives who were diagnosed at a young age. Certain lifestyle factors do come into play in speaking about risk factors for breast cancer; this includes tobacco use, alcohol use, hormone replacement therapy, or excess weight gain.
What are some of the most common misconceptions about breast cancer?
Dr. Marshall: I think when it comes to breast cancer, there are a lot of misconceptions or myths or misinformation. Many of my patients tell me that they worry about the radiation exposure from mammography. I tell them that there has been no data to show any increased risk of breast cancer from annual screening mammograms or breast radiography and generally not to worry about radiation exposure. We are exposed to radiation daily when we go outside or go on a fun trip in an airplane, and yet we worry about the radiation exposure from this.
Additionally, the benefits of a mammogram in being able to appropriately screen for breast cancers at an earlier stage when they are more treatable have been demonstrated time and time again throughout the years.
Another question I sometimes hear is the concern that a needle biopsy will somehow spread breast cancer. Yes, some cancers may spread by surgical intervention or biopsy, such as gallbladder cancer, but this has never been shown to be the case with breast cancer.
Another misconception is that breast pain means cancer. Breast pain, in general, tends to be multifactorial and, generally speaking, is usually associated with benign issues and not typically a cancer symptom.
Another misconception is that if we do not have a family history of breast cancer, we are at a very low risk of ever having cancer in the breast. Still, we know that the average risk for breast cancer is roughly 1 in 8 women. And a majority of breast cancers are not associated with hereditary or genetic abnormality.
What are effective surgical treatment options for breast cancer?
Dr. Marshall: There are different treatment options available depending on what type of breast cancer you have. For a majority of our patients, especially with earlier stage disease, surgery is an important component of their treatment. Other modalities for breast cancer treatment include hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
In terms of surgical treatment options for patients with breast cancer, it typically comes down to two types of operations — one that we consider to be "breast-conserving surgery," often described as a lumpectomy and mastectomy. About two-thirds of our breast cancer patients are great candidates for breast-conserving surgery. About one-third of patients need a mastectomy, which essentially means the removal of most of the breast tissue. Almost always, an axillary or armpit lymph node biopsy is required.
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From your diagnosis to recovery, we care for you in body, mind and spirit. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Marshall, click here. You have what it takes to face your diagnosis.
