Treatments for Benign Tumors

Benign conditions of the breast are far more common than breast cancer. Eighty percent of the approximately 1.3 million biopsies performed annually in the United States reveal benign conditions, which are primarily benign tumors or fibrocystic changes.

Cryoablation for Fibroadenoma

The most common benign breast tumor is the fibroadenoma. Although not life-threatening, fibroadenomas can be bothersome to patients causing physical deformity, discomfort, or emotional distress. Definitive treatment is often desired.

Traditional open excisional biopsy is often recommended, but cryoablation is a minimally invasive option that has the advantage of being an office-based procedure using only local anesthesia. This procedure causes minimal discomfort and little to no scaring. Cryoablation uses extremely cold liquid nitrogen to freeze or destroy benign tumors.

Minimally invasive techniques such as cryosurgical ablation are relatively new but have been studied extensively. There is ample evidence establishing their safety and effectiveness. Studies on cryoablation report results of either elimination or significant reduction in size of the lesion with virtually no complications or regrowth of the fibroadenoma. Cryoablation is an alternative to surgical excision and can be a successful option for the resolution of fibroadenomas.

Surgical Biopsy

To alleviate anxiety regarding potential for growth or malignancy as well as physical discomfort, surgical excision can be performed to remove symptomatic benign breast tumors. With a surgical excisional biopsy, the entire abnormal area as well as some of the surrounding normal tissue is removed. Surgical excision has been widely accepted among patients, physicians and payers based on patient discomfort or deformity, or emotional concerns regarding any type of breast lesion.

Mastectomy

Although rare, some benign tumors can be large and bothersome, grow rapidly, or grow back quickly after an initial surgery. Depending on your condition and your overall plan of care, you may choose to have a mastectomy. A mastectomy is the removal of some or all of the breast. There are five different types of mastectomy: total mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, radical mastectomy, partial mastectomy, and subcutaneous (nipple-sparing) mastectomy. For more details please click here.

Treatments for Breast Cancer

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is a life changing experience. It is our promise to you that we will explore all available treatment options and work with you to develop an individualized plan of care that is right for you. We will welcome you and your family into our family, and guide you through your treatment journey, offering compassion and support every step of the way.

Surgery

Most women diagnosed with breast cancer will undergo surgery. There are several surgical procedures to treat breast cancer including: Lumpectomy, Mastectomy, Axillary lymph node dissection, Sentinel lymph node biopsy, and Reconstructive surgery. Surgery is generally needed to remove a tumor, but surgery can be used in combination with other treatment options to increase successful outcomes. Click here for detailed information.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is a treatment option that uses x-rays and other forms of high energy radiation to target and kill cancer cells. Click here for more detailed information.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment option that uses drugs to halt the growth of cancer. Chemotherapy works by killing cancer cells and by stopping cancerous cells from dividing. Chemotherapy can be used in conjunction with other treatment options. For example, chemotherapy may be used prior to surgery to shrink the tumor and limit the amount of tissue needing to be removed. Your option for chemotherapy depends on the type and stage of cancer. Click here for more detailed information.

Hormone Therapy

Your body is full of glands that produce and distribute hormones. Some hormones can cause cancer to grow. Hormone therapy is a treatment that either removes hormones or blocks their ability to function. Hormone therapy is a treatment that is also used in conjunction with another treatment, such as surgery. Click here for more detailed information.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is designed to identify and attack harmful cancer cells without killing normal, healthy cells. Targeted therapy utilizes antibodies that are able to recognize cancer cells, attached to them, and block their ability to grow. Click here for more detailed information.

Bone-Directed Therapy

Depending on the stage and severity of cancer, it does have the potential threat of spreading to your bones. Bone-directed therapy is the use of drugs that help strengthen bones and reduce the risk of fractures and pain in bones that may be weak due to metastatic breast cancer. Click here for more detailed information.