Advancing Care for Fighting Breast Cancer in Arizona

Every year, around 230,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. It is one of the most common types of cancer that affects women. Breast cancer is classified into invasive and noninvasive, and hormone-receptor positive and negative. In some instances, breast cancer can occur during pregnancy.

Breast cancer is a concern for women of all ages, but advancements in screening technology have improved early detection and prevention.

At Chandler Regional Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, our oncologists collaborate with the Dignity Health – Cancer Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center to provide women with comprehensive care and treatment.

To learn about Dignity Health’s screenings, tests, and treatments for breast cancer in Arizona, Find a Doctor today.

Common Breast Cancer Symptoms

Thanks to routine breast cancer screenings and advanced diagnostic exams, such as 3-D mammograms, doctors at Dignity Health can often find breast cancer, before symptoms have a chance to develop.

Symptoms of breast cancer include:

  • Breast lump or mass
  • Changes in shape, size, or appearance of the breast or nipple
  • Skin changes on the breast or nipple
  • Nipple that is inverted or has a discharge that is not breast milk
  • Swelling of part or all of the breast

If you have one or more of these symptoms, meet with a skilled oncologist at Dignity Health to receive the right diagnosis.

Known Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Researchers have compiled a list of risk factors that may increase your chances of developing breast cancer. These include: 

  • Female gender
  • Caucasian race
  • Family or personal history of breast cancer
  • Prior chest radiation therapy
  • Dense breast tissue and other breast conditions
  • Exposure to DES (diethylstilbestrol), a medicine given to women in the 1940s and 1950s to prevent miscarriage.
  • Older age
  • Early menstruation (before age 12)
  • Late menopause (after age 55)
  • Genetics — five to 10 percent of breast cancers are related to BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations

Lifestyle factors, such as drinking alcohol, being overweight, and not exercising, also play a role in breast cancer development.

Breast Cancer Treatment at Dignity Health

Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer. The first treatment may be surgery to remove any cancerous (malignant) tissue.

Other standard breast cancer treatments at Dignity Health include:

Dignity Health helps women of all ages prevent breast cancer in Arizona through regular screenings and advanced diagnostic imaging to detect abnormal tissue growth early.