Personalized Care for Breast Cancer Patients

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with breast cancer, the expert team of board-certified medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgeons at The Breast Institute at Skagit Regional Health will help you through cancer care to recovery and survivorship.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women – after skin cancer. Breast cancer can occur in men, but at much lower incidence. Mammograms, a primary tool used to screen for breast cancer, can detect breast cancer early. At Skagit Regional Health, we have a comprehensive program for mammography screenings. Our goal is to find any issues early so we can begin treatment before the disease advances.

Understanding Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a disease that starts in the breast, usually in the ducts or lobule tissue. The cells begin to divide and grow abnormally and out of control, creating a mass or tumor and crowding out normal cells. These malignant (cancerous) cells have lost the behavior of normal cells, which die when they are damaged and have “boundaries” keeping them from spreading to the tissue that surrounds them. Breast cancer, if left untreated, spreads inside the breast and may spread to other parts of the body. We know that breast cancer is not a single defect at the cellular level. Many different combinations of defective components contribute to each person’s breast cancer. This is why a timely and precise work up is required: to create a personalized, individual approach for treatment.

State-of-the-Art Breast Cancer Treatment

Our experts at The Breast Institute have the knowledge, skills and experience to offer the latest breast cancer treatments while allowing you to stay in your community, receiving care from people you know and trust. Our program of board certified specialists has been accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) since 2010, the stamp of approval for quality care by experts you can trust. As a patient of The Breast Institute, you can rest assured you are in good hands.

Breast Patient Navigator

Many times a breast cancer diagnosis comes without warning signs or symptoms. Once you have completed a thorough diagnostic imaging work up, breast biopsy and been given the news of a breast cancer diagnosis, your provider will refer you to The Breast Institute. Our Patient Navigator will schedule your appointments with your team of doctors and then reach out to you to discuss the next steps. Our navigator is here to guide you through and around barriers in a complex cancer care system to ensure timely care, comprehensive treatment and support through every aspect of your journey. Your Patient Navigator is your go-to person for all your questions and concerns. They will offer guidance, connect you with the right resource and provide assistance from the moment you begin your cancer care with us, supporting you throughout your entire treatment plan and into survivorship.

Support for Patients with Breast Cancer

Throughout your diagnosis and breast cancer treatment plan we will help you focus solely on getting well. We are here to answer any questions about our wide range of support services, including:

Breast Cancer Conference Offers Coordination and Individualized Care Options

At our regularly scheduled Breast Cancer Conference, our specialists meet together, face-to-face, to discuss each individual case. A highly-trained radiologist and pathologist are included in the discussion to ensure a comprehensive approach to the review. The Breast Cancer Conference allows providers to listen to and collaborate with other providers so a patient gets individualized care that is specific to their exact type and stage of cancer.

Personalized Approach to Breast Cancer Treatment

Your individual breast cancer treatment plan begins with precision diagnostics followed by a thorough evaluation of your specific type and stage of cancer. Research has shown us that there is not a one-size-fits-all treatment approach to breast cancer. This is why our team at The Breast Institute examines and discusses each case to develop a treatment plan tailored to the uniqueness of each patient.

Breast cancer treatment options may include:

  • Medical Oncology: Cancers are treated with drug therapy to kill cancer cells. Medical oncology may use chemotherapy, hormone therapy and/or biotherapy.
  • Radiation Oncology: This involves using high-energy x-rays to treat tumors using radiation.
  • Surgery: Different types of surgical options are considered for diagnostic evaluation, optimal treatment outcomes and potential cosmetic reconstruction based on your type and stage of cancer. Combining lifesaving treatment with the best in cosmetic outcomes, Oncoplastic Breast Surgery is available for patients undergoing breast conservation surgery. Oncoplastic surgery employs advanced plastic surgery techniques during your breast surgery to provide the best cosmetic outcome. Surgeons with advanced training in oncoplastic surgery of the breast will consult with you to determine if this approach is the right option to treat your cancer.

Breast Cancer Clinical Trials Available

Scientists and researchers are continually seeking novel therapies to treat – or even cure – breast cancer. At the Skagit Regional Health Cancer Care Center, your medical team will review new and promising clinical trials that specifically treat breast cancer. If you meet the clinical trial criteria, you have the opportunity to talk more with your provider to determine if a clinical trial is right for you.

Why Choose the Skagit Regional Health Cancer Care Center

Accredited by the Commission on Cancer and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, the Skagit Regional Health Cancer Care Center offers leading-edge breast cancer treatments right in your own community.

We feature a full range of cancer services, including:

For More Information About Breast Cancer Services

To learn more about our breast cancer services, please contact one of our team members at the Skagit Regional Health Cancer Care Center at 360-814-2146. We can help you make an appointment with a breast cancer care physician at one of our convenient locations.

For more information on breast cancer, visit these trusted sites:

American Cancer Society

National Cancer Institute