Breast cancer

Breast cancer screening

Early detection and early treatment of breast cancer are the most powerful tools in fighting the disease. Mammography is an effective screening tool to identify breast cancer in women, and we offer both screening mammograms and diagnostic mammograms.

Breast cancer treatment

A lumpectomy is often included in the treatment plan for early-stage breast cancer. This surgical procedure allows the surgeon to remove your cancerous tumor while conserving as much healthy breast tissue as possible. A lumpectomy is performed in conjunction with a course of radiation to ensure that all cancerous cells are destroyed.

Typically, an aggressive schedule of radiation treatments is scheduled after the lumpectomy. Treatments are usually given every weekday for six to seven weeks.

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT)

Our brachytherapy radiation therapy technology offers you the possibility of IORT, a highly advanced system that delivers your entire course of radiation therapy in the operating room during lumpectomy surgery. Following IORT, you will not need six to seven weeks of postoperative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

Your surgeon can determine if you are a candidate for breast IORT. This therapy may offer you multiple benefits, including:

• Less radiation delivered to surrounding healthy organs and tissue
• Radiotherapy delivered directly to the tumor bed, the part of the breast at the highest risk of recurrence
• Reconstruction is a consideration can be completed during your surgery

Breast Care and Survivorship Clinic

If you have completed breast surgery and the acute treatment phase for breast cancer, we encourage you to make an appointment with our Breast Care and Survivorship Clinic.

Cancer survivors are at risk for physical and psychosocial impacts from cancer care, and comprehensive follow-up is recommended by the American Cancer Society and the Commission on Cancer. The Breast Care and Survivorship Clinic aims to meet your physical and emotional needs following breast cancer treatment.

The nurse practitioner in our clinic will meet with you and provide you with a survivorship care plan, which may include:

• Comprehensive breast exam
• Discussion of ways to reduce the risk for cancer
• Education about your cancer and the treatments
• Evaluation of the psychosocial issues related to breast cancer
• Lymphedema risk and assessment
• Menopausal symptom management
• Monitoring for breast cancer recurrences
• Recommendations for genetic testing, as indicated
• Review of imaging, if appropriate
• Sexual health management
• Support for caregivers

You may be referred to the clinic through a primary care provider, oncologist or self-referral.

About HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network

Fighting cancer takes a team

HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network delivers you exceptional cancer care through cutting-edge, specialized treatments, multidisciplinary collaboration and care that is tailored to you. Our teams of passionate caregivers and global oncology experts across the United States and United Kingdom offer services and expertise that extend across many types of cancer. Together with the full support of HCA Healthcare – a leading provider of cancer care and research – we’re with you and your family from diagnosis through survivorship.

askSARAH helpline

Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (316) 776-6470.