Breast Cancer Care & Treatment in Anchorage, AK
Facing a breast cancer diagnosis can bring many questions and emotions. At Alaska Oncology and Hematology, we are dedicated to providing compassionate, clear, and comprehensive care for individuals affected by breast cancer. With over 232,000 new cases identified in the U.S. each year, breast cancer is a common malignancy, affecting primarily women but also men. Our experienced team is here to guide you through every step, ensuring you receive the personalized treatment and support you need.
Understanding Breast Cancer
Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast grow out of control. The breast contains intricate parts, including lobes (milk-producing areas), lobules (smaller parts within lobes), and ducts (tiny tubes connecting lobules to the nipple). While most breast cancers form tumors, not all breast tumors are malignant (cancerous). Benign (non-cancerous) tumors, like fibroadenomas or papillomas, are not life-threatening and do not spread.
Malignant breast tumors include:
Ductal Carcinoma: The most common type, starting in the lining of the milk ducts
Lobular Carcinoma: A type of cancer that develops in the lobules.
Diagnosing Breast Cancer
Suspicion of breast cancer often begins with a lump found during a breast examination or a suspicious area identified during a screening mammography. To determine the cause, your doctor will perform a biopsy, an outpatient procedure where cells are carefully removed and examined in a laboratory for signs of malignancy. The information from your biopsy is crucial for understanding your specific diagnosis and planning your personalized treatment.
Personalized Breast Cancer Treatment at Alaska Oncology and Hematology
If cancer is found, our team conducts further tests on the biopsy samples to precisely define your disease and determine the most effective course of therapy. Every individual's breast cancer treatment plan is unique, tailored to the cancer's stage and the specific findings from these detailed tests.
Possible treatment options may include:
Understanding Your Journey with Our Oncology Specialists
Here's how we determine the best treatment path for you.
Stage
Based on the size of the tumor, the existence or absence of metastases to distant lymph nodes, and other factors, stage indicates the extent of the malignancy. Many tests, including blood work, chest x-rays, mammography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be necessary to ascertain the cancer's stage. When evaluating the spread of cancer to the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes, patients with early-stage cancer may opt for sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection. Many axillary lymph nodes must be removed during axillary lymph node dissection, a surgery that can have long-term side effects such discomfort, numbness, swelling, and restricted shoulder motion.
A relatively new treatment called sentinel lymph node biopsy involves removing one or a limited number of nodes. There is no need for additional lymph node surgery if the sentinel lymph nodes are negative, meaning they do not exhibit any signs of malignancy. Sentinel lymph node biopsies are increasingly being used in clinical settings to assess if patient's locally advanced breast cancer have lymph node metastases.
HER2 Status
Overexpression of the HER2 protein is present in 20–30% of breast cancer cases. Increased proliferation of cancer cells is caused by overexpression of this protein. Thankfully, the creation of medications that only target HER2-positive cells has improved outcomes for those whose breast cancer is HER2-positive. These targeted therapies may include trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab (Perjeta), trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu). Because of this, every case of breast cancer should have its HER2 status precisely determined.
Hormone Receptor Status
A significant number of estrogen and/or progesterone receptors are expressed by certain breast cancer cells. These malignancies, known as hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, are treated differently from hormone receptor-negative breast cancers and are often linked to a better prognosis. Patients treated with hormonal therapy, such as tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, are frequently diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Recurrence Score
The expression, or activity, of specific genes has been associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence in patients with early-stage breast cancer. A genomic test called Oncotype DX is used to predict the chance of recurrence in a subset of patients with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative invasive breast cancer. While the test can be used for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), its clinical utility is more limited in those cases.
Ready to Talk? We Are Here to Help!
We believe in direct, personal interaction. If you have questions or need to speak with our compassionate team, please call us directly.
STEP 1.
Your First Connection
Please call us; our team is here to offer a listening ear and clear direction for starting your care.
STEP 2.
Guidance for Your Visit
We'll help you prepare for your first appointment by explaining what to bring and what to expect.
STEP 3.
Personalized Options
Our experts will provide clear, understandable information about your condition and work with you to establish your best path forward.