Breast Cancer Surgery – Serving La Jolla, North County, and All San Diego
Breast cancer often strikes women, their families, and their loved ones without so much as a warning. The unfortunate revelation can immediately overwhelm anyone affected by the diagnosis, as decision after decision about treatment has to be made quickly, oftentimes without the benefit of a professional support system. At Surgical Associates of La Jolla, we are committed to providing a strong, comprehensive network of support resources and services for the women readying themselves for or recovering from breast cancer surgery. Patients coming to our practice from La Jolla, North County, and all San Diego can trust our physicians to provide the expert education, advice, and compassion so integral to making a woman's journey to recovery successful. Please contact our practice today to schedule a private consultation to learn more about how Surgical Associates of La Jolla can help you during this trying time.
Breast Cancer
As one of the most commonly occurring types of cancer (second only to lung cancer), breast cancer affects nearly 2.5 million women in the United States and is the fifth most fatal type of cancer.
Though there are different types of breast cancer (determined by a biopsy and subsequent pathology report), all breast cancers are, in essence, malignant tumors that begin to develop in the cells of breast tissue. And, although breast cancer primarily affects women, men can also develop breast cancer due to the fact that both male and female breasts are made of the same types of tissue.
Risk Factors
While a singular cause of breast cancer has yet to be identified, there are widely accepted risk factors that can help determine a person's chances of developing breast cancer. Some risk factors – age, family history, race, and genetic history, among others – are beyond any individual's control. There are, however, lifestyle risk factors that the individual person can control, such as the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy, alcohol consumption, amount of exercise, and the use of birth control pills.
Screening for Breast Cancer
At Surgical Associates of La Jolla, we offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art care that is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Screening
Digital mammograms traditionally used in breast cancer screening are supplemented by the latest in ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) This collection of images may reveal nodules or calcifications that may not be discernable through a typical breast self-examination. The screening may also help our doctors further delineate the features and characteristics of palpable lesions.
Biopsy
If suspicious lesions are found during the screening, they will be biopsied using the most advanced image guidance techniques. Biopsies of lesions are often coordinated through the Scripps Polster Breast Care Center. And, depending on the situation, some patients may even undergo an ultrasound-guided biopsy in our office.
In most cases, patients will undergo a sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is one of the most effective ways of determining the existence of breast cancer and the extent to which it has developed. Because the sentinel lymph node is typically the first lymph node in which cancer cells will appear, a sentinel lymph node biopsy can serve as a fairly accurate indicator of the existence or spread of breast cancer .The tissue is analyzed by a pathologist using special stains that allow for the detection of a very small numbers of cells.
Comprehensive Breast Care
In the unfortunate event that our physicians arrive at a cancer diagnosis, we will be ready to do all we can to provide support. Beginning with a comprehensive discussion with our doctors, all options for treatment – radiation therapy, breast conservation surgery, and mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction, among others – will be laid out and explained.
We then coordinate a complete and integrated plan of treatment including the surgical procedure, further diagnostic studies, as well as evaluations by other specialists involved, including radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, and medical oncologists. Whether the ideal treatment is determined to be radiation therapy or breast cancer surgery, our surgeons seek to provide our La Jolla, North County, and metro San Diego patients with the most timely evaluation and coordination of care possible.
Throughout the entire process, our doctors are committed to providing support that is honest, comprehensive, and, above all, compassionate. We believe that, because the breast cancer patient has so much to worry about, the coordination of her tests, treatments, and procedures, as well as the quality of her care, should not have to be among them.
Our Relationship with Scripps Polster Breast Care Center
Surgical Associates of La Jolla enjoys a close, seamless working relationship with the Scripps Polster Breast Care Center. Our physicians and staff frequently collaborate with their radiologists and staff on difficult cases, discuss complex treatment plans during weekly conferences, and have access to the same database of images.
The Scripps Polster Breast Care Center utilizes some of the newest and most advanced digital imaging technology, allowing our physicians to provide the highest quality care to our breast cancer patients. We have a streamlined process with image-guided biopsy procedures, and also have access to all images, as well as the radiologist, whenever they are needed.
Contact Surgical Associates of La Jolla
The physicians and staff at Surgical Associates of La Jolla all strive to provide as much support as possible during the difficult process of dealing with breast cancer. Start-to-finish support, including expert education, comprehensive screening, and exceptional breast cancer surgery are provided to the patients coming to our La Jolla practice, located conveniently for North County and metro San Diego patients. Please contact Surgical Associates of La Jolla today to learn more about our unwavering commitment to taking care of our breast cancer patients.
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To learn more about the breast cancer screening, surgery, and aftercare, contact our La Jolla practice, convenient to North County and San Diego, today.
Surgical Associates of La Jolla
Dr. Paul Hyde
Dr. Mark Sherman
Dr. Cheryl Olson
9850 Genesee Ave., Suite 660
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 452-5054
Fax: (858) 452-5097
La Jolla Weight Management
Dr. Mark Sherman
Dr. Cheryl Olson
9850 Genesee Ave., Suite 660
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 452-5054
Fax: (858) 452-5097
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