Breast Cancer Care

While there's no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, there are steps you can take to reduce common risk factors. Here are some strategies for breast cancer prevention:

• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer, especially after menopause. Maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce this risk.
• Exercise Regularly: Engage in regular physical activity. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise each week.
• Limit Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Limiting alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day, or avoiding alcohol altogether, can help reduce this risk.
• Quit Smoking: Smoking is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women. Quitting smoking can improve overall health and reduce the risk of many types of cancer, including breast cancer.
• Breastfeed, If Possible: Breastfeeding can lower the risk of breast cancer, especially if done for a year or longer.
• Get Regular Screenings: Participate in regular breast cancer screenings, such as mammograms and clinical breast exams. Early detection can lead to better outcomes.
• Know Your Family History: Be aware of your family's medical history, particularly regarding breast cancer and other cancers. Some people may be at higher risk due to genetic factors, such as mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Symptoms of breast cancer may include a breast lump, dense breasts, changes in breast size or shape, dimpling or puckering of the skin, redness or flaky skin around the nipple, nipple discharge (other than breast milk), and other changes in the appearance or feel of the breast tissue.

Early-stage detection through breast cancer screenings, such as mammograms or biopsy, and prompt treatment greatly increase the chances of successful outcomes. Treatment options for breast cancer may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy or a combination of these approaches, depending on the type and stage of the cancer.

A concerning lump or pain can make you anxious for clarity. At AdventHealth, we know waiting for these answers keeps you from being present in your everyday life. It’s why our imaging experts and pathologists aim for same-day test results whenever possible, because the quicker we have answers, the faster we can plan for any challenges that lie ahead. Across our comprehensive Breast Care programs, we’re equipped with some of the latest in genetic counseling, testing, imaging and minimally invasive diagnostic technology, including:

• BRCA tests
• Digital and 3D mammography
• Fine-needle aspiration
• High-definition breast MRIs
• Minimally invasive stereotactic breast biopsy

Living an empowered life means taking control of your health. So stay on schedule with mammograms, know your family history and visit us regularly so we can monitor any unexpected changes.

Being part of a strong network of care means that we are able to offer comprehensive breast cancer treatment for the broadest range of conditions. Across our network of renowned breast cancer programs, we have specialists in treating the following types of breast cancer:

• Ductal carcinoma, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and all IDC types: tubular, medullary, mucinous, papillary, cribriform
• Inflammatory breast cancer
• Male breast cancer
• Paget's disease of the breast
• Phyllodes tumors of the breast
• Recurrent and metastatic breast cancer
• Lobular carcinoma, including lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)

You can trust in the breadth and depth of our experience to provide the expert breast cancer treatments you need. Some of the breast cancer treatments we provide are:

• Surgery:
  • Lumpectomy: Removal of the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue.
  • Mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast. Some subtypes of mastectomies include:
    • Total mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast
    • Modified radical mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast and some lymph nodes under the arm
    • Radical mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast, chest muscles, and lymph nodes under the arm
    • Sentinel lymph node biopsy: Removal and examination of the lymph nodes to determine if cancer has spread
• Radiation Therapy:
  • External beam radiation therapy: High-energy beams targeted at the affected breast or lymph nodes to kill cancer cells
  • Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy): Placement of radioactive material directly into the breast tissue near the tumor
  • Chemotherapy: Use of drugs to kill cancer cells or stop their growth. Chemotherapy may be given before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to shrink the tumor, or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to kill remaining cancer cells.
• Hormone Therapy: For hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, hormone therapy may be used to block the effects of estrogen or progesterone, which can fuel the growth of cancer cells
• Targeted Therapy: Targeted drugs attack specific abnormalities within cancer cells
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy drugs work by boosting the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. While not yet as commonly used as other treatments for breast cancer, immunotherapy is being studied and may be an option for certain types of breast cancer.
• Clinical Trials: Participation in clinical trials may offer access to new treatments or combinations of treatments currently being evaluated

We’re here to help you fight more than cancer cells. We’re here to help you fight your fears and keep your faith. Whatever the stage and whatever your need, your dedicated team will be with you from testing and diagnosis through treatments, side effects and remission. Throughout your breast cancer care, we offer the following services to support you:

• Cancer rehabilitation
• Breast reconstruction
• Mastectomy bra-fitting services
• Support groups
• Wig fittings

Our goal is to help you live your fullest life long after your breast cancer diagnosis. Count on us to guide and support you through your health care journey.

At AdventHealth, putting your care at the heart of our mission has put us at the forefront of breast cancer treatments and research. Across our network, you'll find teams leading some of the country's most advanced clinical trials and working closely with leading universities and breast cancer research programs. Our advancements in diagnosis and treatment options, including minimally invasive breast cancer surgery and advanced imaging techniques, have won awards from some of the most noted organizations in cancer care.

Our AdventHealth Cancer Institute is accredited by several national cancer organizations for its quality, outcomes and comprehensive care. It has also been recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology for its commitment to improving outcomes through increased participation in key clinical trials. We are here to diagnose, treat and eradicate cancer. We're honored to achieve accolades for our work, but the real reward comes when we see our patients becoming breast cancer survivors.