Breast cancer affects at least 12% of women in the United States during their lifetime. Dr. Pamela Gaudry, MD, NCMP, FACOG, is a women’s health expert and sex therapist who understands how a cancer diagnosis can affect you personally, as well as intimacy with your partner. If you live in or near Savannah, Georgia, and need to talk to an expert, call the office or book an appointment online.
Breast cancer occurs when mutated cells in the breast tissue grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor. Breast cancer can form in any part of your breast tissue, but most commonly occurs in the ducts that carry milk.
Menopause doesn’t cause breast cancer, but your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. Your risk of developing breast cancer also increases if you hit menopause after age 55.
There are two primary screening processes to detect breast cancer:
Monthly breast self-exams may help you catch breast cancer early. Knowing how your breast feels normally makes it easier for you to identify lumps and changes in breast tissue. The exam should be done while standing up and lying down. With the pads of your fingers, start at the outside of your breast and in a circular motion move to the center, feeling for lumps. You should also do a visual inspection in the mirror to look for dimpling.
Mammograms are low-risk X-rays that detect lumps in the breast. Unless Dr. Pam recommends otherwise, you should get a mammogram every year between age 45 and 55, then every two years thereafter.
Treatment options for breast cancer vary and include:
Due to advances in medicine, more and more women are surviving a cancer diagnosis and treating it more like a chronic disease. Dr. Pam understands the impact breast cancer and its treatment can have on your life and offers survivorship gynecology counseling.
This treatment includes:
Dr. Pam understands how important your lifestyle is to you and her goal with treatment is to give you back your happiness and help you get back to the person you were before diagnosis. Dr. Pam believes good health and well-being includes sexual vitality.
If you're struggling with your breast cancer diagnosis and need to talk to a caring and compassionate healthcare provider, make an appointment with Dr. Pam. Book online or call her office today.