The Margie Petersen Breast Center, a Center of Excellence

Breast Treatment & Services

Women come to the Margie Petersen Breast Center because we can fully evaluate any breast condition in one day. By bringing several experts from other specialties together to discuss each case, we provide a more thorough assessment in less time. This process involves radiation, medical, and surgical experts, working together with radiology and other clinical staff.

Most lumps found in the breast are not cancer. If a biopsy is needed, we perform the biopsy the same day, or as soon as possible. Our team of breast specialists can quickly determine next steps and guide you through the entire process. With an annual exam, we conduct regular screenings, which is essential for early cancer detection. Patients are provided information regarding treatments, reconstruction, and supportive services during their visit.

Breast Health

Breast Health involves assessment of symptoms, conditions, and genetics, as well as prevention. (See Breast Health)

• Genetic testing and family history are considered to determine risk and recurrence.
• Common conditions may involve breast pain, masses (or lumps), skin conditions, and lesions.
• Prevention involves wellness recommendations and steps you can take to be well.

Breast Evaluation

Breast Evaluation involves how we assess the extent of conditions. (See Breast Evaluation)

• Breast exams help to establish regular assessment and early cancer detection.
• Advanced technologies, including ultrasound, mammograms, CT scans, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), provide visual references and measurements for the care team.
• Biopsies aim to validate if a cancerous condition is present using scientific analysis.

Breast Cancer Treatment

Treating breast cancer may require one or more types of treatment, which are prescribed as appropriate to maximize curative effect and improve quality of life. For example, surgery may be followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, whereas a small, solid tumor may be treated with just radiotherapy depending on its location and the presence of metastasis. Additional treatment may include endocrine therapy (hormone therapy) and immunotherapy, which helps the immune system fight cancer. Our goal is to determine the best possible care path for you based on the type of breast cancer you have, its stage, your overall health status, and your treatment preferences. We are here to support you every step of the way.

Surgery

Removal of the cancerous gland, organ, or affected tissues (See Surgical Treatments for Breast Cancer)

• May be performed with the aid of robotics
• Used to repair tissues affected by cancer and surgery, including breast reconstruction
• May involve oncoplastic techniques, providing immediate breast symmetry
• Can be delivered with other types of treatment

Radiotherapy

Focused beams of energy that disrupt tumor growth (See Radiation Therapy Treatments)

• Used primarily for solid tumors and those in difficult to reach areas
• May require specialized imaging to determine the exact location of the tumor
• Can be delivered externally via particle beams or internally using specialized instruments
• Can be utilized with other types of treatment

Medical Treatment

Medication and treatments that address cancers that have or can spread to other areas (See Medical Treatments)

• Reduces the speed of fast-growing cancer cells throughout the body
• Encompasses systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy, biologic, endocrine, and immunotherapy treatment
• Can be utilized with other types of treatment

Breast Reconstruction

Redeveloping the appearance of the breast after complete breast removal (mastectomy) (See Breast Reconstruction)

• Common for women who undergo breast mastectomy
• May take place at the time of the cancer operation or as a separate procedure
• Encompasses different kinds of reconstruction, including direct-to-implant, autologous tissue, and nipple-areola reconstruction

The Breast Oncology team at the Margie Petersen Breast Center is ready to support you and your family. We welcome your questions and recommend coming in for an exam as soon as possible. We will discuss common conditions, treatment options, and offer additional information for each of our services as well as other cancer support services.

Contact us today.

Saint John’s Cancer Institute is leading with innovation

An Outcomes-based Approach

The doctors at the Margie Petersen Breast Center have the advantage of working alongside other researchers including geneticists, biologists, immunologists, drug discovery scientists, and clinical trials experts at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute who collaborate with dozens of academic and industry organizations worldwide.

Together, we apply decades of research and data from thousands of cancer cases to improve our clinical practice and the quality of life for our patients. For example, we can identify biomarkers and genetic profiles that indicate who is more likely to have a recurrence of cancer, which can guide early treatment strategies and other preventive measures. As a patient, you can be assured that highly recognized doctors and peer-reviewed, published physicians and scientists are all working together to develop the best care approach and medical solutions.

Advancements in Radiotherapy

Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT)

Highly targeted radiation therapy delivery that limits the radiation to just the treatment area (See Radiation Therapy Treatments).

• Delivered during breast conserving surgery
• Used in early-stage breast cancer
• Treats the area that the tumor previously occupied
• Delivers treatment in a single dose of radiation
• Patients receiving IORT after surgery may not need future radiation
• Reduces the need for additional care visits compared to external beam treatment
• Lowers the risk of cancer recurrence

Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)

Provides the radiation oncologist greater options by focusing radiation to just a portion of the breast (See Radiation Therapy Treatments).

• Treats a rim of normal breast tissue surrounding the surgical cavity rather than the whole breast
• Equivalent to a five-week course of whole breast radiotherapy
• Treatment is commonly completed in one week
• Uses Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy(IMRT) external beam radiation therapy or High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy internal catheters/balloons
• An outpatient procedure

Programs Expansion

Saint John’s Cancer Institute Translational Immunology Program

Launched in 2021, our Immunology program works to define and isolate the mechanisms by which cancer cells evade the immune system (See Translational Cancer Immunology).

The goals of the Immunology program include:

• Identify the inhibitors of immune response that prevent the body from healing itself
• Promote novel immuno-therapeutic agents for improving immune response
• Develop targeted immunotherapies specific to the genetic profile of a patient
• Predict with greater accuracy relapse-free survival