Breast Cancer
A team approach to treatment
The healthcare team at the St. Vincent’s Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care incorporates a multidisciplinary approach to treating breast cancer.
Our extensive breast care team consists of breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, nurse navigators, radiologists, pathologists, lymphedemia specialists and genetic counselors who work closely with your primary care physician to coordinate your care and keep you safe.
Facts about breast cancer
Breast cancer accounts for an estimated 14.5% of all new cancer cases in the United States with 232,620 cases of invasive breast cancer expected to be diagnosed in 2011. There are almost 40,000 deaths annually as a result of breast cancer. Excluding skin cancer, it is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer in women. One out of eight women will face breast cancer over the course of her lifetime and the incidence increases with age. Although breast cancer can occur in males, it accounts for less than one percent of all breast cancer cases in men.
There has been a dramatic decrease in the incidence of breast cancer in women over the last ten years which is due to less women taking combination hormone replacement therapy.
Invasive breast cancer can travel outside of the breast. Non-invasive breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in-situ or DCIS) is confined to the breast and does not travel outside the affected area.
Risk factors
In addition to gender, increasing age is the most important risk factor for breast cancer. Other factors include obesity, decreased activity level, younger age of first menses, non-child bearing, history of radiation to the chest wall and family history of breast cancer.
Recommended screening
Mammography is one of the best ways to detect breast cancer at an early stage. It is recommended that women have their first mammography at age 40 unless they are in a high risk category. Women at high risk, or women who have been diagnosed with dense breast tissue, should supplement their annual mammogram with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) screening.
All women should conduct monthly self-breast exams.
Please download and use this handy shower guide to self-breast exam
The St. Vincent’s SWIM Women’s Imaging Center and the St. Vincent’s Mobile Mammography Coach provide women with advanced technology combined with a compassionate touch in breast screening, detection and diagnostics.
Treating breast cancer at St. Vincent’s
St. Vincent’s Medical Center is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Accreditation by the NAPBC is granted only to those centers that are committed to providing the best possible care to patients with diseases of the breast. St. Vincent’s has undergone rigorous evaluation and review of its performance and compliance with NAPBC standards.
Our comprehensive care approach to treating patients addresses the medical as well as the psychological needs of cancer patients and their families. From screening and diagnosis to treatment to support services and survivorship, our team of physicians, nurses, technicians, therapists and support staff work collaboratively to determine individualized treatment options leading to the most optimal results for the patient.
A treatment plan designed just for you
A combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy is commonly used to treat breast cancer. Each patient’s individual needs are assessed by our multidisciplinary team of cancer specialists to determine which combination of treatment options is most appropriate. Plastic surgery consultation, genetic testing and clinical trials for appropriate patients are readily available at The Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care.
Breast cancer cases are reviewed weekly at a dedicated breast cancer tumor conference attended by physicians and staff from different disciplines ensuring the most thorough assessment of these cases.
A guiding hand - when you need one
At St. Vincent’s Medical Center, our nurse navigator is there to help guide patients through the diagnosis, treatment and survivorship of breast cancer. Patients receiving chemotherapy may receive treatment in our ambulatory infusion center where they will find a warm, healing environment with state-of-the-art medical equipment and experienced, certified oncology nurses.
You will always be treated with compassion and with the philosophy of treating the whole person – mind, body and spirit – not just the cancer. Compassionate care is our mission.
The Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care
The Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care is accredited with commendation by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
Criteria for accreditation include a relationship with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and a representative from the ACS is a member of our Hospital Committee on Cancer.
Click in for additional information about specific cancers listed by ACS, and call the Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care's referral line: 1-877-231-SWIM (7946) for more informaton.
Contact us
To find a St. Vincent’s physician who can discuss your health concerns or those of a loved one, please click on our FIND A DOCTOR tool and search by specialty, practice, location or keyword. We’re here to help you locate the medical expert you need.
To speak with a St. Vincent's Care Line representative, call (877) 255-7847
To speak with somone at the front desk of the Medical Center, please call (203) 576-6000
Click in for St. Vincent's Medical Center DIRECTIONS | MAPS | PARKING information