Care & Services : Breast Cancer
Adena’s breast cancer specialists provide advanced care in southern Ohio
Adena’s team of oncology specialists provide advanced breast cancer treatment options close to home. Our team consists of specially trained physicians and staff dedicated to offering a multidisciplinary approach to highly personalized care.
It is estimated that 12.7 percent of women born in the United States today will develop breast cancer at some time in their lives. However, as treatments improve and technology advances, the death rate for breast cancer is steadily going down. Right now, there are more than two million breast cancer survivors in the United States alone.
To request an appointment with one of Adena’s breast cancer specialists, please visit our Request an Appointment page or call us today at 740-542-3030.
What is breast cancer?
Cancer starts in the body’s cells, which are the units that make up tissue. Tissues are the structure for breasts and other parts of the body. When the normal process of a cell’s growth and division throughout the body goes wrong, a buildup of extra cells sometimes occur. This buildup can form a mass of tissue called a tumor, which is sometimes referred to as a lump or growth.
Tumors in the breast can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Benign tumors:
- Are rarely life-threatening
- Can be removed and often don't grow back
- Don't spread to other tissues or parts of the body
Malignant tumors:
- Can be life-threatening
- Usually can be removed but occasionally grow back
- Can spread to other tissues and parts of the body
Facts About Breast Cancer
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S., other than skin cancer
- The five-year survival rate when breast cancer is detected in stage one is more than 90%
- The risk for developing breast cancer increases with age
- Prompt access to care in the Appalachia Region has been recognized as a barrier to care and as why women in this region are often diagnosed with more advanced stages of breast cancer
- While there is an increase in breast cancer nationwide, death associated with the disease is on the decline because of early detection
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Common symptoms of breast cancer include:
- A lump or thickening in or near the breast
- Changes in the size or shape of the breast
- A nipple turned inward into the breast
- Discharge, sometimes bloody, from the nipple
- Changes in skin color or texture on the breast, nipple or areola
Because breast cancer usually doesn't show symptoms in its early stages, early detection is important. Often, some symptoms are not due to cancer but could be related to another health problem. If you have any of these symptoms, you should tell your doctor so that proper diagnoses and treatment can begin.
Detection and Diagnosis
Your doctor can check for breast cancer by providing you with a physical exam. This can detect cancer before you have any symptoms. Your doctor will also ask about your personal and family medical history. Your doctor may also order tests, such as a mammogram or biopsy.
Early detection is very important. This is why it is recommended that women have regular clinical breast exams and mammograms.
To request an appointment with one of our specialists, please visit our Request an Appointment page or call us today at 740-542-3030.
Types of Exams to Detect Breast Cancer
There are a number of types of exams to determine if cancer is present. Below is a list and brief description of the most common types of exams.
Clinical Breast Exam
During a clinical breast exam, your doctor checks your breasts. Your doctor is looking for signs such as differences in size or shape between your breasts, the skin of your breasts is checked for abnormal signs, your nipples are checked for fluid, lymph nodes near the breast are checked to see if they are enlarged and you will also be checked for lumps. If a lump is found, it will be checked for size, shape, and texture.
Mammogram
Mammograms, which are pictures of the breast tissue, can usually detect a breast lump before it can be felt. Along with lumps, mammograms can also show a cluster of calcium, called micro-calcifications. These can be from cancerous or precancerous cells, or other conditions. Further tests may be needed to determine if abnormal cells are present.
Additional Imaging Tests
Sometimes your doctor may order additional imaging tests. This occurs usually if an abnormal area is found during initial testing. These tests may include an Ultrasound or MRI. An ultrasound device sends out sound waves and a computer is uses the sound waves to create a picture that will show more information about the lump. A MRI uses a powerful magnet linked to a computer, which creates detailed pictures of breast tissue, which will illustrate a variation between normal and diseased tissue.
Biopsy
A biopsy is the final test to determine if you have cancer. This is removal of tissue to look for cancer cells. There are several types of biopsies, ranging from fine-needle to surgical. Depending on where the fluid or tissue is, your doctor will select which biopsy option will work best in your case.
