What is breast cancer?
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.
How is breast cancer detected?
There are two primary screening processes to detect breast cancer:
- Breast self-exam
- Mammogram
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.
What are the treatment options for cancer?
Treatment options for breast cancer vary and include:
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Radiation
What is survivorship gynecology?
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:
- Preoperative counseling
- Assistance with management of treatment side effects
- Help with cancer and its effect on your sex life
- Dealing with intimacy after cancer
- One-on-one counseling
- Caregiver counseling
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.
