The latest in screening & treatment for breast cancer
The Breast Health Center at Tufts Medical Center in downtown Boston offers a full range of services to help improve your chances of preventing cancer or detecting it in the earliest stages.
We offer the latest in digital mammography screenings. Also, if you have a family history of breast cancer, you may opt for genetic counseling and possibly genetic testing in addition to your regular breast cancer screenings. Our genetic testing team includes an experienced geneticist and a genetic counselor to help you understand your cancer risk and treatment options (see below).
If you're diagnosed with breast cancer, our program offers state-of-the-art treatments in a caring, supportive environment. In addition, our patients have access to the latest clinical trials.
Our Breast Cancer Specialists
Our oncologists, radiologists, surgeons and pathologists meet weekly to discuss each patient's individualized care.
Your care team will work in close collaboration with you and your nurse navigator to develop a plan based on your health history, lifestyle and cancer type. Breast cancer care plans usually include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or a combination of therapies. You may also be a candidate for more-personalized, targeted treatments that are under development or in clinical trial.
Treatment Options Available
Tufts Medical Center offers a variety of options to treat your breast cancer, including state of the art surgical options, radiation, medical therapy and clinical trials.
Surgery
Surgery is often the first step in treating breast cancer. Whenever possible, our surgeons use minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as sentinel node biopsy (testing a small number of lymph nodes to determine if your cancer has spread), to reduce your risk, discomfort and recovery time. We also specialize in oncoplastic breast surgery - a field that combines the best of cancer treatments and reconstructive techniques. Learn more about the surgical options at Tufts MC >
Radiation
Our physicians employ the latest image-guided techniques for breast conservation and regional radiation along with other techniques such as brachytherapy and hyperthermia. Meanwhile, our radiologists oversee all aspects of breast-conserving radiation therapy or post-mastectomy treatment.
Medical Therapy (Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy & Precision Targeted Therapy)
Your care team may recommend chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted biologic therapies before or as a follow-up to surgery. Our experts use a wide range of anti-cancer medications, including advanced drugs that target specific breast cancer cells.
Reconstructive Surgery
We offer patients consultations with our reconstructive surgeons immediately after diagnosis. As a result, we can fully integrate this aspect of your treatment into your overall care plan, saving you time and unnecessary worry. A variety of modern reconstructive techniques is available either at the time of your surgery or after you've completed your cancer treatments.
Clinical Trials
In addition to standard treatments, the Breast Health Center offers patients access to promising new therapies through participation in clinical trials at Tufts MC. Some of our trials are unique to Boston or available at only a few centers in the United States.
