Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in women, and one in eight women in the United States develop this disease. While over a quarter of a million new cases are diagnosed on average each year, survival rates are getting higher, thanks to early detection and cutting-edge medicine and practices, like those found at Charleston Oncology.
Charleston Oncology works with you to not only identify the exact type of breast cancer you have but also come up with the best treatment program for your case.
MESSAGES FROM OUR PHYSICIANS
STORIES FROM OUR PATIENTS
What to Expect
What are the different types of breast cancer?
Under the heading of breast cancer are several different types of the disease. While any cancer diagnosis is severe, the kind of cancer dictates to a great extent the nature of treatment you will receive. The main types of breast cancer are:
IN SITU CANCERS
These types of cancer are noninvasive, as well as pre-invasive, and are found in the milk glands in your breast. While these cancers are localized, they still warrant treatment and bear close monitoring because they can become more aggressive.
INVASIVE BREAST CANCERS
Invasive cancers, such as the more common invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma, need treatment because they have spread into your breast tissue.
There are rarer forms of breast cancer, which account for less than 3-9% of cancer cases, and include:
- Angiosarcoma
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Paget disease of the nipple
- Phyllodes tumor
How is breast cancer treated?
This question is difficult to answer since it depends upon several things, such as:
- Type of breast cancer
- Stage of the cancer
- Whether it’s a recurring cancer
- Previous treatments
- Your current and past health
Every patient is different, so there’s a lot to consider when coming up with a treatment protocol. Rest assured, the team at Charleston Oncology has access to the latest medicine and science and they actively take part in cutting-edge clinical trials.
Will I lose my hair during treatment?
One of the concerns when facing breast cancer treatment is the side effects of the drugs, and hair loss ranks near the top for many women. In 2016, the FDA cleared the revolutionary device called DigniCap®, and 10 top cancer centers began using it, including Charleston Oncology.
This system cools your scalp to reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss. You wear the cap while you receive your chemotherapy, which delivers a consistent cooling that constricts the blood vessels in your scalp, causing your hair follicles to absorb less of the drug.
During trials, the cap allowed seven out of 10 women in early-stage breast cancer to maintain at least 50% of their hair.
To learn more about the innovative breast cancer treatments at Charleston Oncology, call to book an appointment.
DigniCap® COLD SCALP MACHINE
The machine works by cooling the scalp causing a reduced blood flow to that area so that less chemotherapy reaches the hair cells. Therefore this reduces chemotherapy-induced hair loss.
