Breast Cancer

When you first see us, you may be at the very beginning of your cancer journey. Or maybe you’re partway through. You may think you have cancer and are waiting for more testing. You may have just been diagnosed. Maybe you’re facing breast cancer that has come back. If you’ve recently gotten an abnormal mammogram result and biopsy that showed breast cancer, your provider might have referred you to our team.

However you came to be with us, we’re here for you.

You’ll meet with our team of breast cancer specialists to talk about your diagnosis and treatment options. Seeing lots of providers can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ll coordinate your appointments in one day — or over several days — depending on your schedule.

If you’re just getting started, you’ll likely meet with a breast surgeon first. This provider will walk you through the first steps of your treatment plan and help coordinate your care. They’re there to guide you even if surgery isn’t a part of your plan.

Healthcare providers you may see

Throughout your journey, you'll be supported by many healthcare providers. You may see a:

• Breast surgeon.
• Medical oncologist (a specialist who diagnoses and treats cancer).
• Radiation oncologist (an expert who treats cancer with radiation therapy).
• Plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
• Medical breast specialist (someone who specializes in the treatment of individuals at high risk for developing breast cancer).
• Psychologist.

At your appointments, you can expect your healthcare providers to:

• Do a physical exam.
• Review imaging tests.
• Talk about your cancer diagnosis and stage (how advanced it is), and if it has spread.
• Listen to your goals and concerns.
• Go over all of your treatment options.

Our expert cancer specialists will dive in, spending time with you to help you better understand your diagnosis and what treatment options might be right for you. We also know not all breast cancers grow at the same rate. So we always try to meet with you as soon as possible.

Learning you may have breast cancer can be emotional and overwhelming. You’ll want to feel confident that you’re working with a team of healthcare providers you trust. And that you’ll get the best possible care. That’s why we encourage second opinions. Getting a second opinion can help you feel more in control of your care and give you peace of mind knowing you’re in the most capable hands.

Breast Cancer Treatment at Cleveland Clinic

How we treat your breast cancer depends on the type of cancer you have, your goals and your medical history. Your provider may recommend a combination of these treatments for the best long-term results:

Surgery

There are two main types of breast cancer surgery:

• Lumpectomy removes part of your breast.
• Mastectomy removes your entire breast.

If lumpectomy or mastectomy is part of your treatment plan, you may choose to have breast reconstruction right after surgery. At Cleveland Clinic, our breast surgeons and plastic surgeons operate together to give you results that help you feel good about how you look and make you feel confident about your body.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses targeted beams of energy (radiation) to zero in on cancer cells, while protecting the healthy tissue around them. You might have radiation to your breast, lymph nodes or other areas of the body if cancer has spread. We specialize in radiation techniques that spare heart and lung tissue, as well as treatment that can reduce radiation therapy from several weeks to just five days.

Chemotherapy

When you think about cancer treatment options, your mind might jump to chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a medication that we give you intravenously (using an IV through a vein) to kill cancer cells in your body. It’s an effective treatment, but it may come with side effects — like hair loss. Losing your hair can feel like another bump in the road of cancer treatment. But we’ll be there to help you feel as good as possible if you do lose some or all of your hair as part of your care. At our Wig Boutique, you can treat yourself to a complimentary wig, scarf or cap while you have treatment.

Hormone therapy

We may recommend hormone therapy to treat breast cancer. Some cancer cells are hormone receptor-positive. This means certain drugs can prevent hormones in your body (like estrogen) from causing cancer cells to grow.

Recurrent breast cancer

The thought of breast cancer coming back after treatment is something no one wants to face. But if it does return, there’s hope. Your Cleveland Clinic cancer team will go back to the drawing board and work through what’s next — often trying new therapies, combinations of therapies or clinical trials when it makes sense.

Taking the Next Step

Everyone’s journey with breast cancer is different. And no matter where we meet you on yours, you can be sure that we’ll never leave your side. One day at a time. One step at a time. We’ll walk this path together. At Cleveland Clinic, you’ll find expertise, compassion and most importantly — hope.