Breast Cancer

Our comprehensive oncology services in Chandler and Gilbert, Arizona are dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The average risk for breast cancer in a woman’s lifetime up to age 90 is approximately 12 percent. Risk increases with age, but according to the National Cancer Institute, even at age 70, the typical woman’s risk is less than 4 percent, which means she has slightly more than a 96 percent chance of not being diagnosed with breast cancer by age 70.

The risk is there as women age, and doctors agree that vigilance is the key to catching breast cancer and treating it with the best chance of curing it and ensuring survival. Approximately 95 percent of breast cancer patients whose cancer is caught in an early stage survive beyond five years. The key to determining how best to monitor your breast health is a frank discussion with your doctor about how often you should have a screening mammogram once you reach age 40, based on your personal risk factors.

Common Terms Associated with Breast Cancer

Breast cancer can take on many forms and may be referred to by any of the following terms.

Ductal Carcinoma – Breast cancer located in the lining of the milk ducts.

Lobular Carcinoma – Breast cancer located in the milk glands.

Invasive – Breast cancer that spreads beyond where it began in the breast to surrounding tissue, also referred to as metastasizing. About 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer cases occur each year.

Non-Invasive - Breast cancer that is confined to where in the breast it began. About 50,000 cases of non-invasive breast cancer occur each year.

Hormone-Receptor Positive – This means the breast cancer tumor cells contains hormone receptors. Hormone therapy can be used to block estrogen and/or progesterone production in order to slow or stop the growth of hormone-sensitive or hormone-dependent breast cancers.

Hormone-Receptor Negative – This means the breast cancer tumor cells do not contain hormone receptors. Hormone therapy would not be an effective treatment to slow or stop the growth of a tumor.  

Nurse Navigator

Our experienced and compassionate oncology nurse navigator quickly becomes the champion for patients, as she counsels, schedules and coordinates each office visit.

Patients can expect the following:

• Prior to a patient’s first visit, our nurse navigator contacts the patient and/or their caregiver to collect medical history, including genetic history, and answer any questions.

• At the first appointment, our navigator greets each patient helping to put them at ease. Patients then meet one-on-one with members of our oncology specialist team who will discuss treatment options and answer questions.

• Patients will also spend time with our lifestyle counselors to discuss resources available through our Survivorship Program. 

• Before each patient leaves, our nurse navigator thoroughly walks through their plan of care, and actively listens for questions she can help answer. Our nurse navigator will help patients understand their next steps.

Patients can count on our nurse navigator to help guide them through their entire journey, coordinating physician appointments and communication between providers and counselors within our clinic.

Questions to ask your oncologist

1. How will you determine whether I have breast cancer and what kind of breast cancer I have?
2. How will you determine the best treatment for me?
3. How long does each treatment option typically last, both individually and as a series of treatments?
4. How will you know if the treatment is making progress?
5. How long will I need to remain your patient?

How Can I Decrease my Risk of Breast Cancer?

You can minimize your risk of developing breast cancer through these four steps:

• Exercising 3 or more hours per week
• Eating low-fat and high-fiber foods
• Maintaining a normal body weight (a) BMI of less than 25
• Limiting alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day

Online Breast Cancer Assessment Tool

Take a FREE online breast cancer risk assessment. This online tool provides a personalized, strictly confidential information that will help you:

• Estimate your 5-year & lifetime risk of breast cancer
• Compare your risk to the average for your age & ethnicity
• Identify your different types of breast cancer risk factors