Breast Cancer Program

Patients in clinical trials benefit from the latest developments in the field.

• Our research program is growing to include more investigator-initiated clinical trials. We have clinical trials available for every stage of diagnosis.
• We are studying new ways to determine if any cancerous cells remain at the edge of a removed breast tumor. This will help surgeons make sure they completely remove every trace of cancer. As a result, cancer is less likely to come back.
• Some abnormal breast cells could develop into cancer. By studying the genetic makeup of these cells, we can better understand which types will lead to breast cancer. And we can manage them before they do.
• We continue to study the characteristics of the breast cancer gene. The more we know about this gene, the better able we are to identify breast cancers in the earliest stages.

GW Cancer Center offers specific screening and treatment for breast cancer.

• We offer a unique approach for deciding which screening method will be best for each patient. Rather than simply using mammography for everyone, we look at the patient’s breast density. We also consider risk factors, like family history. Since we use the best screening approach for each patient, we can identify significantly more cancers.
• Every biopsy we perform is done minimally invasively in a safe outpatient setting. There is no need to go to the operating room for a breast cancer diagnosis.
• We are committed to offering advanced imaging to patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Molecular breast imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) give us the best chance of detecting cancer in other areas of the breast or body in its earliest, most curable state.
• Our dedicated plastic surgeons offer excellent cosmetic outcomes. We offer reconstruction using the patient’s own tissue (flaps). We even offer a rare flaps procedure that uses tissue from body parts other than the belly. As a result, virtually every woman can now have an advanced reconstructive procedure.
• We often refer women and their family members for genetic counseling. Understanding cancer genetics takes expert training. When it comes to treatment, our cancer geneticists use testing known as molecular profiling. It helps them to better understand the specific tumor, and what treatments work best for that tumor type.

GW Cancer Center invests in state-of-the-art technologies beyond mammography. These tools help us improve breast cancer detection rates. They are most beneficial for women in a high-risk category or who have dense breast tissue:

• We are the only program in the area to offer molecular breast imaging. This nuclear imaging technology can identify active cancer cells to find ten percent more tumors.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used for both diagnosis and staging of breast tumors. It is a helpful tool for women at a higher risk for breast cancer.

• Automated whole breast ultrasound is a radiation-free, non-invasive approach. It uses sound waves to create a three-dimensional picture of the breast.