HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · SEPTEMBER 2018
BREAST CANCER:
Surgical Considerations
B
Alvaro Restrepo,
M.D., is a medical
oncologist at Texas
Oncology–McAllen,
1901 South 2nd Street
in McAllen, Texas. For
more information, visit
TexasOncology.com or
call 956-687-5150.
reast cancer
treatment advances
have resulted in
nearly 100 percent
survival rates for
stage 1 breast cancer, according
to the American Cancer Society.
Even so, newly diagnosed women
face understandable concerns
and uncertainty. What weighs
on each patient’s mind is the
question, “Am I going to be ok?”
Thankfully, the answer is often
a resounding, “Yes!” Although
breast cancer is expected to be
the most commonly diagnosed
cancer in women in 2018, it’s
one of the most treatable
and survivable when
discovered early.
Steady declines
in breast cancer
mortality
since 1990 are
attributed to a
combination of
early detection
and treatment
improvements.
Still, fears of
chemotherapy
and potentially
losing their
breasts with
mastectomy
are the top
immediate
concerns
voiced by my
patients. To
help them
discuss
those
14 HEALTHY MAGAZINE
concerns among peers, we
collaborate with Pink Positive,
a nonprofit that provides
support groups for patients and
caregivers.
IMPROVEMENTS IN
CANCER CARE LEAD
TO MORE OPTIONS
FOR PATIENTS
All forms of breast cancer
treatment – chemotherapy,
surgical techniques, and
radiation – continue to improve
as experience and research
reveal new breakthroughs and
innovations. That progress gives
patients more options and often
less invasive treatment options
to take into consideration during
and especially after treatment.
For chemotherapy patients,
Texas Oncology–McAllen
collaborates with local nonprofit
Infinite Love to provide free
lunch to patients receiving this
treatment – a much-appreciated
act of kindness that our patients
enjoy.
It’s important to remember
that a breast cancer diagnosis
does not automatically result
in a mastectomy. Most women
diagnosed with breast cancer
will need some form of surgery
as part of their treatment,
but it will vary with each case.
Some women need removal of
a small piece of breast tissue
(lumpectomy), while others
will need one or both breasts
removed, and possibly lymph
nodes. The type and stage of
the cancer will impact the need
for a mastectomy. Your breast
surgeon and you will determine
what type of surgery is best for
you.