We're here to help. You can begin with these two steps.
Call an Inova breast care navigator
Our navigators know every inch of this new and unfamiliar terrain. They provide a sense of order and will help you sort through the many questions, answers and options you face. And they’ll continue to serve as an advocate and resource as you move through the sometimes-overwhelming process of diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Find a physician who specializes in breast care
Our expert physicians represent every medical specialty essential to world-class breast care. We can help you find an Inova Breast Care Institute physician to meet your needs.
Treatment begins with a plan
Before you begin any specific treatment, your physicians at Inova Breast Care Institute will work with you to create an individualized treatment plan. They will take into consideration many factors, including:
- What type of breast cancer you have
- Where the tumors are located
- The size of the tumor(s)
- Whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other organs
- Your age, lifestyle and treatment preferences
- Whether you want reconstructive surgery
There is no single “right” approach to treating breast cancer. But there is a treatment that is best for you.
Breast cancer treatment generally includes one or more of these options:
Staging
When cancer is diagnosed, physicians must determine the stage or extent of the disease so they can prescribe the most effective treatment. Sometimes lymph nodes are removed to determine if the cancer has spread. Sentinel node mapping is a sophisticated procedure during which the sentinel node (the first lymph node to which breast cancer is likely to spread) is removed and tested. This technique spares the other nodes and reduces the risk of long-term complications and discomfort of lympehedema, a condition where excess lymph fluid collects in tissues and causes swelling.
