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Breast Cancer

COMPASSION, CONVICTION, AND COURAGE

Breast Cancer

Services are offered in Folsom, Elk Grove, & Roseville CA

Fighting breast cancer requires comprehensive care from a team of surgeons, radiation specialists, and medical oncologists. At Hematology and Oncology Associates of Northern California, Mansoor Javeed, MD, FACP, and Christian Kim, MD, serve as an integral part of your treatment team. They provide advanced medical treatments, such as chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, giving you compassionate, personal care in the comfort of their relaxing on-site infusion suite. If you need breast cancer treatment, call the office in Folsom and Elk Grove, California, or request an appointment online today.

Frequently asked questions

What causes breast cancer?

Breast cancer begins when changes occur in cellular DNA. These changes cause rapid, uncontrolled cellular growth, creating a mass of cancerous cells.

Most breast cancers arise during your lifetime as you’re gradually exposed to substances that affect DNA. However, 5-10% of women with breast cancer inherit a genetic variation.

The most common inherited genetic mutation affects two genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2. Forty-five to 75% of women with this genetic variation develop breast cancer.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

Finding a lump in your breast is the most common symptom, but you may also notice:

  • Lump under your arm
  • Breast itchiness
  • Redness or minimal swelling
  • Skin puckering or dimpling
  • Nipple discharge from one breast
  • Nipple changes (like a newly inverted nipple)
  • Skin changes (peeling, crusting, or flaking skin on your breast)

Schedule a breast exam as soon as you notice any change in the appearance of your breasts.

How do medical oncologists treat breast cancer?

Hematology and Oncology Associates of Northern California specializes in medical oncology, providing on-site care for all breast cancer treatments other than surgery and radiation therapy. The providers also offer supportive care, helping you overcome issues like nutrition and troubling side effects.

You may need any of these treatments before or after surgery:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy before surgery shrinks the tumor (making it easier to remove) and also starts treating cancer that may have spread. After surgery, chemo eliminates cancer cells that may still be in your breast or body even though they’re not visible in imaging tests.

Hormone therapy

Two out of three breast cancers need estrogen to grow (called hormone receptor-positive cancers). Hormone therapy either blocks estrogen from entering cancer cells or lowers estrogen levels in your body (depending on the medication).

Targeted drug therapy

This treatment uses medications that target specific proteins in breast cancer cells. The medication disables the protein, stopping the cancer cell from growing or spreading.

Your provider may recommend a specialized medication containing a targeted drug and a chemotherapy drug. The targeted drug can then take chemotherapy directly to the cancer cells.

Immunotherapy (biological therapy)

Immunotherapy refers to medications that boost your immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Currently, immunotherapy is primarily used for breast cancers that don’t respond to hormone or targeted therapy.

If you need compassionate care for breast cancer, call Hematology and Oncology Associates of Northern California or request an appointment online today.

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Hematology and Oncology Associates of Northern California

Phone (appointments): 916-250-0377
Address: 1631 Creekside Drive, Suite 102, Folsom, CA 95630

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