Breast cancer
Breast cancer is most common in women, but can also affect men. Often, it's detected after finding a lump in the breast or a noticeable change in the size, shape or skin of the breast. Mammograms are crucial for diagnosis, early detection and more effective treatments.
Recognized breast cancer care in San Antonio
A breast cancer diagnosis can be confusing and unsettling, but you don't have to navigate it alone.
The oncology teams at Methodist Healthcare hospitals have proven to be trusted resources for breast cancer care in San Antonio. Since you may not always experience signs or symptoms, our goal is to promote preventive care to detect breast cancer early, such as annual mammograms. If cancer is detected, our specialists help you understand your care options, while supporting you and your family.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
We offer integrated breast cancer services paired with convenient access and cutting edge technologies for individuals faced with fighting breast cancer. Our breast cancer programs maintain the highest standards in the region, with personalized, compassionate care for patients on their journey from discovery to recovery. Your breast cancer care team at Methodist Healthcare offers:
- Board-certified and fellowship-trained pathologists and radiologists
- Breast cancer nurse navigators who will guide you through your cancer journey
- Breast programs that are quality based and certified by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers
- Cancer support services and access to local and national support groups
- Established multidisciplinary breast tumor conference in San Antonio, continuously discussing breast cancer cases prospectively since 1993
- Genetic counseling and risk assessment
- Leading-edge breast reconstruction procedures including Hidden Scar, DIEP flap, and surgery for the treatment of lymphedema
- Oncology rehabilitation and lymphedema therapy
For more information about our cancer care services, please call askSARAH at (210) 507-0941.
Breast cancer treatment
Our highly trained treatment team of pathologists, radiologists, medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and plastic surgeons work together to provide comprehensive, individualized cancer care. Our affiliated physicians are leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
In addition to chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your breast cancer doctor may recommend breast surgery as part of your treatment plan.
Mastectomy
A mastectomy is a procedure that involves eradicating a breast cancer tumor by surgically removing the entire breast and its tissues. Depending on your condition, you can have a mastectomy to remove one breast (unilateral mastectomy) or both breasts (bilateral mastectomy).
There are several mastectomy options, including a simple (total) mastectomy, skin-sparing mastectomy and a nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM). You might be considered for a specialized NSM if no cancerous tissue is found in the nipple, as well as if you are seeking a prophylactic mastectomy, which is a mastectomy that is performed even if cancer does not exist.
Mastectomies may be performed in women with:
- Family history of breast cancer or the BRCA gene
- Noninvasive cancer
- Small tumors that do not lie directly beneath the nipple
Lumpectomy
Lumpectomy is surgery in which only the tumor and some surrounding tissue are removed. This surgery also referred to as breast-conserving surgery, helps confirm a diagnosis or rule it out. Your doctor may recommend a lumpectomy if a biopsy has shown that you have cancer and that it is small or early stage. A lumpectomy is usually followed by radiation therapy to help prevent the cancer from returning.
We also offer specialized lumpectomies for when the size of the tumor is small enough compared to the size of your breast.
Breast reconstruction surgery
After a mastectomy or lumpectomy, talk to your nurse navigator about breast reconstructive surgery. Several options that recreate the nipple and areola are available.
Our advanced reconstructive procedure, the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap, is a procedure by which surgeons use the patient's abdominal skin and fat to reconstruct the breast after a mastectomy. With the DIEP flap, patients experience faster recovery and a lower risk of complications than many other reconstructive techniques. State of the art surgical treatment for lymphedema is also available, including lymphatic-to-vascular anastomosis (“LVA” hook-up) and vascularized lymph node transfer.
About Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute
As part of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, our family of hospitals provides comprehensive cancer services with convenient access to cutting-edge therapies for people facing cancer in our communities. From diagnosis to treatment and survivorship care, our oncology expertise ensures you have access to locally trusted care with the support of a globally recognized network.
askSARAH helpline
Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (210) 507-0941.
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