Comprehensive Breast Center, Comprehensive breast care of the highest quality possible.

Q: What is Breast Cancer?

A: A breast cancer develops when cells is your breast become abnormal and divide in a uncontrolled and irregular manner. When this happens, a malignant tumor is formed (breast cancer). Other tumors that do not have malignant cells are called benign tumors.

Q: What is a biopsy?

A: Biopsies are diagnostic procedures that are done to find out if a lump in you breast or an area that looked abnormal on your mammogram is cancer. A biopsy involves removing tissue, fluid, or cells from your breast and looking at them under a microscope for cancer cells. There are different types of biopsies: Stereotactic ultrasound guided and surgical.

Q: What is a stereotactic breast biopsy?

A: Stereotactic breast biopsy is a less invasive and less painful way of obtaining a tissue sample needed for biopsy. This simple procedure uses digital imaging technology to locate an abnormality seen on a mammogram, that cannot be felt on physical examination, and allows for the removal of small cores of tissue through a tiny incision.

Q: What is a ultrasound breast biopsy?

A: Ultrasound guided breast biopsy is a less invasive and less painful way of obtaining a tissue sample needed for diagnosis of an abnormality that can be seen by ultrasounds. This simple procedure uses high frequency sound waves to locate the abnormal area. It allows for the removal of small cores of tissue through a tiny incision.

Q: What is a Lymph Node Dissection?

A: To find out if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under your arm (axillary lymph nodes), the surgeon removes some of the nodes. This is called a lymph node dissection.

Q: What is a Sentinel Node Biopsy?

A: A new procedure that may eliminate the need for some women to have a complete lymph node dissection. A blue dye and a radioactive substance are injected into your breast. They travel along the lymphatic ducts in your breast to the lymph nodes under your arm. The first node they reach is called the sentinel node. This is usually the first node that cancer cells will travel to if they have traveled outside your breast. The surgeon uses a special device to locate radioactive material which identifies the sentinel node. The node is then removed for pathological evaluation.

Q: What is Fibrocystic "Disease"?

A: Fibrocystic Disease is the most common cause of breast lumps. This condition, which is not an actual disease, is probably caused by the mammary glands, ducts, and fibrous tissue reacting to abnormal hormone levels. As a result, multiple pockets of fluid (called sacs or cysts) develop, and an increase in fibrous tissue may form. Tenderness and lumpiness commonly increase during the week before menstruation and decrease a week after. Fibrocystic disease often improves after menopause.

Q: What is a mammogram?

A: A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast to screen for breast cancer. Typically 2 pictures are taken of each breast (four pictures if you have implants). Sometimes additional pictures are needed to better view a particular area.

Q: What is breast ultrasound?

A: This is a procedure using sound waves to view breast tissue and can be used in conjunction with (not instead of) the mammogram to better define an area of concern. It alone is not a screening tool for breast cancer.

Q: What is Fibro adenoma?

A: Fibro adenoma is a single solid tumor, composed of fibrous and glandular tissue. It occurs most frequently in women between 18 and 35 and is usually smooth, round and movable when felt. Although it is not usually tender, premenstrual tenderness can occur. Nearly all breast tumors in women under age 25 are fibro adenomas.

Q: What are the stages of breast cancer?

A: There are four stages of breast cancer:

Stage I:
Describes tumors that are smaller than 2 centimeters (about 3/4 inch) and have not spread outside the breast.
Stage II: A
Describes tumors that are smaller than 2 centimeters and have spread to the lymph nodes
under the arm, tumors that are between 2 to 5 centimeters (about 3/4 to 2 inches) that have or have not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage II: B
Tumors that are more than 5 centimeters (2 inches) and have not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage III: A
Includes tumors that are smaller than 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) and have spread to lymph nodes causing them to stick together and become immobile under the arm, OR tumors that are larger than 5 centimeters and have spread to lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage III: B
Includes tumor that have spread to tissue near the breast, such as skin, chest wall, ribs and muscles of the chest, and tumors that have spread to lymph nodes inside the chest wall.

Stage IV:
Refers to cancers that have spread to other parts of the body such as liver, lung or bone.

Q: What is a lumpectomy?
A: A lumpectomy is an operation that removes a malignant tumor (lump) and some of the tissue around it. During the operation, the surgeon checks the edges or margins of the resection to make sure that there are no more cancer cells in your breast.
Q: What is a mastectomy?
A: A mastectomy is the surgical removal of your breast. A mastectomy may be recommended if you have more than one malignant tumor in your breast or if you have a large tumor. There are 3 types: simple, moderate radical, mastectomy.
Q: What are the types of mastectomy?
A: A simple or total mastectomy involves removing only the breast. This is sometimes recommended for noninvasive or intraductal carcinoma. A modified radical mastectomy is the most common type of mastectomy. This involves the removal of your whole breast including lining of the chest muscle (not the muscle itself) and some of the lymph nodes under your arm.. A radical mastectomy (also called the Halstead radical mastectomy) is rarely used unless the tumor has spread to the chest wall muscle. This procedure removes the breast, the axillary lymph nodes and the chest wall (pectoral muscle).
Q: How do I do a breast self exam?
A: Refer to self exam web page
Q: *What is Osteoporosis?*
A: Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone density. Because there is less bone density, the bones become brittle, week and more likely to fracture. Osteoporosis currently contribute to 1.5 million fractures each year. Of those 1.5 million fractures, approximately 300,000 are hip fractures.
Q: *What is a Bone Density Test?*
A: A bone density test is a measurement of the density of your bone mineral, and can be taken from various places throughout the body, such as the hip, the spine, the heel, the forearm, the finger, or even your whole body. A bone density test involves the use of x-rays, in low dosage. It indicates to you whether or not you are at risk for fracture.

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