Breast Cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer today. It is frightening…but treatable. It is critical to seek early diagnosis and treatment for any type of cancer and then be prepared for great outcomes with today’s’ amazing treatments. Dr. Rudderman is an expert in matters of the breast and as a specially trained reconstructive surgeon, he has been able to guide many, many women through the process and procedures with wonderful, positive results.
The following information gives an overview of the types of breast cancer, diagnostics, treatments, and surgical options:
This non-invasive breast cancer starts in the milk ducts. It does not grow through the lobular walls and rarely becomes and an invasive form of cancer. It can be a risk factor for developing invasive cancer in the same or the opposite breast.
Also called intraductal carcinoma this is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer. With DCIS the cancers cells are inside the ducts but have not spread through the duct walls into adjacent tissue.
DCIS Overview:
Also called Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma, it starts in the milk duct, is the most common type of breast cancer and is invasive. It grows in the fatty breast tissue and can metastasize, after breaking through the duct wall.
It starts in the milk-producing glands and can metastasize to other parts of the body. Invasive lobular carcinoma is often more difficult to detect by mammograms than IDC. About 1 in 10 breast cancers are ILC’s
Staging is a process of determining your prognosis and treatment options based upon the type and extent of the cancer. It may involve blood tests and other tests:
Testing is based on each individual. One or a combination of tests may be needed to determine this. Your Oncologist makes this decision.
Non-invasive, abnormal cells as in DCIS.
An early stage of invasive breast cancer in which cancer cells are contained in the breast but have spread through the breast tissue.
Involves one of the following:
Is a locally advanced cancer that is broken into 3 sub-stages:
Cancer that appears after previous treatment and a period of remission. It usually shows up in some other part of the body such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain.
There are certain things we know about cancer today such as certain risk factors that increase the chance of getting a disease. Aging, previous history of breast cancer, family with other females who have had cancers, certain chromosomes are being studied for linkage to breast cancer and others. BRCA involves genetic testing to determine if a woman (man) is predisposed to breast cancer. It looks like this:
Contact us at 678.566.7200 to meet with Dr. Rudderman in our Alpharetta office or Midtown Atlanta office.
Written and reviewed by:
This article was written by Dr. Randy Rudderman, who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (1994). He practices medicine at his offices in Alpharetta and Atlanta.
Learn more about Dr. Rudderman, his medical training, and credentials.
Ashkenazi Jewish Women (ancestors from Eastern Europe)
These women are at risk if one or both of the following is a factor:
NON Jewish Women should be tested if 1 or more of these is a factor:
Before and after testing… it is important to receive genetic counseling to help you understand the benefits, risks and possible testing outcomes. It is strongly recommended today that women who carry this gene consider prophylactic mastectomy and bilateral breast reconstruction. Dr. Rudderman will counsel you on this matter and refer you as well to a general surgery breast specialist.
Dr. Rudderman is one of Atlanta’s surgeons of choice. He is specialized in many complicated problems of the breast & he employs delicate, advanced techniques to achieve the most natural outcomes possible.
Procedure to remove the tumor and a small margin surrounding the healthy tissue. Used for removal of smaller tumor that will separate easily from the adjacent tissue.
A simple mastectomy removes all the breast tissue, lobes, ducts, fatty tissue and skin, nipple and areola.
Radical mastectomy removes all the above and the underlying muscle of the chest wall along with armpit lymph nodes.
Removal of One Lymph Node…the one near the breast tumor. After it checked and discerned no other nodes are involved…the procedure is completed.
If cancer is found in the sentinal node, additional armpit nodes are removed to check for spread of the cancer and to determine the course of treatment. Chemotherapy or radiation may be deemed necessary from this test result.
Use of high powered energy beams to kill cancer cells administered outside the body or internally with radioactive material (brachytherapy).
Used to destroy cancer cells, to reduce risk of cancer spreading or to shrink tumors (neoadjuvent chemotherapy) before surgery or given post surgery as “adjuvant systematic therapy”.
Called hormone blocking therapy may be used to treat breast cancers that are sensitive to hormones, referred to as estrogen and progesterone receptor positive cancers. These medications include: Tamoxifen, Arimidex, Femara and Aromasin. They work by either blocking estrogen or the enzyme that converts androgens to estrogen. The latter are effective in menopausal women only.
If breast removal is required women face the challenges encompassed with this new situation. Reconstructive surgery is early always chosen to rebuild a breast mound that looks normal and natural. But the question always remains…what about the other breast. Many women opt to have prophylactic mastectomy to remove the fear of more cancer and to restore normalcy to their lives. Many more women opt further to have both breasts reconstructed.
Breast Reconstruction can be done today at the same time as the mastectomy, under the same anesthesia, so you wake up with a new breast mound in place…or it can be done later at a time of your choosing. It is your choice!
Dr. Rudderman’s unique, integrated approach to plastic surgery employs only safe, effective, predictable surgical techniques that are driven by uncompromising respect for the natural condition of the human form. He understands that the body changes with time – as do desires. His primary goal is to deliver the best possible plastic surgery … specifically matched to each patient…in a safe environment with ultimate respect for every single individual…their concerns and goals. LEARN MORE »
“The best plastic surgery results must give each individual the opportunity to feel comfortable now and in the future…”
Dr. Randy Rudderman