Breast Health Care

How to Contact Us

Cancer Center's main telephone number: 888-828-9373
Appointments: 617-636-5757

Clinical Program Overview

The Tufts Breast Health Center, a leader in the field for more than 30 years, provides a comprehensive program for the management of both benign and malignant breast disease.   Our multidiscplinary group offers a team approach to treatment to ensure that all patients receive a personal care plan.   Our team reviews all new breast cancer patients weekly to discuss the diagnosis, staging, and final treatment plan.   We specialize in the following:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
• Invasive breast cancer
• Inflammatory breast cancer
• Phyllodes tumors
• Advanced and metastatic breast cancer
• Recurrent breast cancer and chest wall recurrences

Treatment

Surgical Oncology and Plastic Surgery

• Breast conservation and oncoplastic surgery
• Sentinel node biopsy
• Tissue and implant reconstruction

  Radiation Oncology

• Accelerated breast irradiation - Offered to appropriately selected patients, including both one-week, accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) course and a four-week course of whole breast irradiation. Brachytherapy delivery options include a single or multilumen catheter for optimal planning capabilities. These accelerated courses allow completion of treatment in a shorter period of time.
• Whole breast radiation with IMRT and forward treatment planning
• Stereotactic radiation with image guidance using cone beam CT
• Hyperthermia - Heating a tumor can increase the effectiveness of radiation.   Hyperthermia is most commonly used in the setting of recurrent disease in a previously radiated site.   Clinical trials have shown increased response rates for hyperthermia used with radiation for recurrent breast cancer

  Medical Oncology

• Participation in adjuvant and advanced disease clinical trials
• Consultations for high risk screening
• Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy
• Treatment of relapsed and metasatic disease

  Radiology

• Mammography
• Ultrasound
• MRI
• Optical mammography (investigational)

  Genetics

• Genetic Risk Assessment
• Testing for BRCA 1 and 2 mutations and other cancer susceptibility genes

Pathology

• CLIA-certified for high complexity testing
• Inspected and accredited by the College of American Pathologists
• Dr. Stephen Naber (in charge of breast pathology) holds a Certificate of Special Expertise in Breast Predictive Factors Testing from the College of American Pathologists. All testing for estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2 is performed at Tufts Medical Center under his direction

For more information on a breast cancer or other cancer diagnosis should go to http://www,myBiopsy.org - a patient service of the College of American Pathologists.

Clinical Trials  

Our patients have access to novel therapies through participation in both Tufts Medical Center clinical trials and national clinical trials. 

more information

Our Experts

Surgical Oncology	Roger A. Graham, MD Chief, Division of General Surgery Director, Tufts Breast Center Janice Rothschild, MD Leasha Burow, PA
Medical Oncology	John K. Erban, III, MD Clinical Director, Cancer Center John Scott Nystrom, MD Rachel J. Buchsbaum, MD Kellie Sprague, MD
Radiation Oncology	David Wazer, MD Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology Jody Morr, DO
Radiology	Marc J. Homer, MD Chief, Mammography Section Judith Katz, MD Chief, Ultrasound Section Shital Makim, MD
Genetics	Jodi D. Hoffman, MD Laurie Demmer, MD Jaclyn Douyard, ScM, CGC
Pathology	Stephen P. Naber, MD, PhD Chief, Anatomic Pathology
Plastic Surgery	Jason Cooper, MD Daniel Driscoll, MD

Clinical Support Services

Oncology Nurse Coordinator

          Cate Mullen, RN, MSN, AOCNS

coordinates overall care of patients with breast cancer

Social Worker

          Elizabeth Schwarz, LICSW

helps patients and families cope with concerns during treatment

Physical Therapist

          Megan Whitmore, MPT, CLT

certified therapist experienced in the treatment of lymphedema

We Offer:

Breast cancer support group

Weekly coffee hour

Look good/Feel better program

Survivorship series

Original Jacki garment and post-mastectomy camisoles

Referrals for prostheses, bras, wigs, and compression sleeves

Referrals for nutrition and complementary therapies

Basic Science Research

A wide range of research in breast cancer occurs at Tufts Medical Center and the adjacent Tufts University Health Sciences campus.   Investigators with active research efforts in breast cancer work in labs within the Molecular Oncology Research Institute (MORI) and the Tufts University Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences .  

Donations

You can make donations to support breast cancer research or to support patients and families who cannot afford certain basic services.

Breast cancer research – contact Roger Graham, M.D. (617-636-8270)

• Diane Connoly-Zaniboni Research Fund
• Cure Breast Cancer License Plate
• Grace’s Fund
• Breast Cancer Research Program

Patient support - contact Cate Mullen, R.N. (617-636-0291)

• Yellow Rose Breast Cancer Fund
• Blue Room Fund
• Moynihan Fund

Other opportunities for giving