Comprehensive Team Treatment for Breast Cancer Patients
The breast multidisciplinary team serves as a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach for assessing, planning, monitoring, coordinating and evaluating the delivery of cancer care services.
- Medical oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Surgeons
- Plastic surgeons
- Radiologists
- Internists
- A nutritionist
- A nurse navigator
- Pathologist
- Clinical trials
- Social worker
- Genetic counseling
Initiatives developed by the breast multidisciplinary team have included breast screening and treatment guidelines for breast cancer based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, as well as standardized pathology reports.
In addition, the team is developing an awareness and screening calendar that includes community speaking engagements, continuing medical education (CME) and screening forums. Their collaborative initiatives are ongoing and publicized every October, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Screening for breast cancer begins with a mammogram at the Telfair Pavilion, a designated Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology and part of the team at the LCRP who earned accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. St. Joseph's/Candler also has other locations for mammograms, please go here to find them.
Personal Breast Cancer Treatment Planning
Once your breast cancer has been diagnosed and classified, your team of breast specialists will work together to determine your best treatment schedule. Your treatment will be tailored to your specific needs, based on variables such as type and stage of cancer and whether the cancer is sensitive to certain hormones.
Surgical Breast Cancer Treatments
Lumpectomy
During this surgical procedure, the tumor and cancerous tissue inside the breast is removed, while leaving the rest of the breast attached. Occasionally, surrounding lymph nodes will also be removed. Because of new technology in the surgical field, the survival rate of patients who undergo lumpectomies is equal to that of the patients who receive a mastectomy.
Mastectomy
This procedure is the surgical removal of the entire breast. Because of the size, type or depth of certain cases, a mastectomy is sometimes the optimal choice to prevent cancer from returning. After your mastectomy, we welcome you to visit our Transformation Station center for breast prosthetic options.
Other Breast Cancer Treatments
Treatment options include:
Chemotherapy – administration of medicines designed to destroy cancerous cells given either orally or through IV.
Radiation Therapy – the use of high powered radiation or radioactive elements to kill cancerous cells.
Targeted Therapy – medications administered to specifically target proteins on breast cancer cells in order to block messages that cause the cancer cells to grow or replicate, resulting in inhibition of growth or destruction of the cancer cells.
Meet the Breast Team Physicians
Richard J. Greco, M.D.
Christine A. Green, M.D.
David R. Knopf, M.D.
Robert Myers, M.D.
John A. Pablo, M.D.
Yana Puckett, M.D.
Catherine Ronaghan, M.D.
Mark A. Taylor, M.D.
Emma Walker, D.O.
For More Information about Comprehensive Cancer Surgical Care
For information about cancer surgical services or comprehensive cancer services and physician specialists at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion, please call 912-819-5704. We look forward to helping you.
