-566-9950
women and men diagnosed with breast breast exam and be their own advocate
cancer. In addition to awareness cam- if they suspect something is wrong.
paigns about the importance of screen- One cancer that people don’t talk
ings, advanced technologies are leading about much is Inflammatory breast can-
to more accurate diagnoses so breast cer. It’s rare, but it presents in a very
cancer can be detected and treated in its similar way to the much more common
earliest stages. mastitis, so it may be treated first with
Among these advancements are 3D antibiotics and then biopsy if the antibi-
mammography, or tomosynthesis, ded- otics are not effective. In general, for all
icated breast ultrasounds, breast MRIs cancers, it’s important to watch for skin
and stereotactic and ultrasound guided thickening and firmness in the breast,
biopsies. To complement these technol- lumps and nipple retraction.
ogies is an even more concerted effort to The progress of the pink movement is
educate patients, families and care- undeniable. Still, women should be
givers. This is crucial in treating the proactive about knowing their breast
whole patient. density and risk assessment value, and
The idea is that if patients under- no matter their schedule, make time to
stand their diagnosis and care, they are get screened annually with 3D mam-
more capable of accepting the care mography if possible.
needed and maintaining family, work
Sherry R. Gage, RTRM, is director of
and social requirements of their journey
oncology services at Abrazo Central
through cancer.
Campus in Phoenix. For more informa-
Some of the technologies we use at
tion, visit AbrazoHealth.com.
Abrazo are well-known to patients,
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