breast cancer Archives - HHO Hunterdon Hematology Oncology

Breast cancer is a very common type of cancer that affects both women and men — but that doesn’t make it any less scary. This type of cancer can strike at any time, which leaves you feeling vulnerable. However, there are steps you can take to detect early signs of the disease.

At Hunterdon Oncology Hematology, we help you not only understand your specific type of cancer, but all of your treatment options as well. Our board-certified team of oncology and hematology specialists also assists you with breast cancer detection through self breast exams.

Why self exams are important

Self breast exams are the number one way you can stay on top of your breast health — and detect changes as early as possible. Although your doctor usually performs these exams once a year, that isn’t enough to stay ahead of cancer.

So how often should you be performing a breast exam? The simple answer is every month. The best time to do this is after your menstrual cycle, because your breast tissue won’t be swollen and sensitive.

If you no longer have a menstrual cycle, your periods are very sporadic, or you’re a man, you can simply pick the same day every month to do your exam. To make it easy, either pick the first day of each month, or a number that’s special to you so you don’t forget.

How to perform a breast exam

A self breast exam involves you visually inspecting your breasts, as well as feeling each breast for any abnormalities. To perform the visual part of your exam, you’ll want to be in front of a mirror, topless and without a bra. Stand with your hands down at your side, and look for:

Changes in size
Changes in shape
Symmetry
Dimpling or puckering
Inverted nipples

You’ll also want to put your hands on your hips, as well as raise your arms over your head to check for any of the above changes. In addition, make sure to lift each breast and inspect the underside for any abnormalities.

Once you’ve performed the visual exam, manually check your breasts with your fingers for any lumps or changes in your breast tissue. You can do this either in the shower or by lying down on a bed or sofa.

Lying down helps you more easily feel for changes because it allows your breast tissue to flatten out, making a lump more discernible. In the shower, it’s also easier to do a breast exam, because your fingers glide more easily over your breast tissue when you’re lathered with soap and water.

Make sure you manually examine each breast completely. Not only does this help you detect any changes, but it also makes you familiar with how each breast feels, so that each month potential abnormalities are easier to find.

Tips to help you with a self exam

Although self breast exams aren’t necessarily difficult, there are some tips you should learn to make the whole experience a lot easier. Tips that help you detect changes in your breast tissue include:

Use the pads of your fingers

The pads of your fingers are pretty sensitive, making them ideal for finding lumps in your breasts. Use your index, middle, and ring fingers to do your manual exam. If you don’t have good feeling in your finger pads, you can also use your palm or back of those three fingers.

Change your level of pressure

Using different levels of pressure allows you to feel the different depths of your breast tissue. Use a lighter touch to feel the top layer of tissue, and use a heavier touch to feel the tissue closer to your chest wall.

Try not to rush

Self exams only take a couple of minutes, and rushing to get the exam done could lead to missed breast tissue changes. Take your time to do it properly.

Use a pattern

Following a certain pattern during your self exam makes your monthly routine go much more smoothly. It also helps you make sure you check every inch of your breast tissue. You could start at your nipple and move outward, or you could begin at your collarbone and work down.

If, during your exam, you notice any abnormal changes in your breast tissue, contact our office as soon as possible to schedule a consultation. Although lumps don’t always mean cancer, it’s best to rule it out rather than wait too long.

If you need more information or have been diagnosed with breast cancer, call our office in Flemington, New Jersey at 908-264-1798 to make an appointment. You can also reach out to us by using our online booking tool.

Like many people, you may be concerned about your breast health, and how your wellness affects your family, loved ones and friends. We share your concern. As part of a comprehensive breast program, Hunterdon Hematology Oncology (HHO) combines a comfortable, supportive environment with first-rate, comprehensive diagnostic and treatment resources… all conveniently close to home.

A Coordinated Approach to Breast Care

At HHO, we take a coordinated approach to breast care, for both well care and breast cancer care. A highly skilled team of breast specialists from different medical disciplines provides diagnostic testing, treatment, surgery, psychosocial support, education and rehabilitation. This team also collaborates with family practice physicians, gynecologists, radiologists, oncology specialists, plastic surgeons, pathologists and counselors to ensure that the care you receive is the most comprehensive it can be.

Hunterdon Hematology Oncology, a part of the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, is a full-time care partner, providing surgery, reconstruction alternatives, radiation and chemotherapy, support and counseling every step of the way. A full-time, dedicated Nurse Coordinator experienced in breast health issues remains in contact with you, keeping you informed about test results. She serves as liaison if further treatment and evaluation are necessary, coordinating appointments in an expeditious manner. She is there to hold your hand every step of the way.

The First Step in Breast Care is Imaging

Before a regimen of care can be formulated, a clear evaluation or diagnosis of the condition of the breast must take place. And this involves imaging – a picture of what is going on within the breast. This can be done at Hunterdon Women’s Imaging.

Breast Imaging Tests

The most commonly used breast imaging tests at this time are mammograms, ultrasound, and breast MRI.

Routine Mammogram

A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast. It can detect a breast lump nearly two years before it can be felt. A routine mammogram is the main reason most women are referred to the breast program at HHO. Screening mammograms evaluate breast health in women with no symptoms, and are used for those who seek routine breast evaluation. Diagnostic mammograms are used to diagnose breast disease in women with symptoms of a breast problem: dimpling, or a change in texture of the skin of the breast, a lump, or discharge from the nipple.

Digital Mammogram

Digital mammography is the most advanced technology to date for detecting breast cancer. The digital mammography procedure is essentially the same as standard film mammography, but uses a computer and digital image instead of film. Digital mammograms allow the image to be acquired and displayed immediately, reducing the time that the patient must remain still. This expedited process provides the patient with a more convenient and comfortable mammogram. In addition, a digital image can be enhanced and altered to be seen more clearly and to make a more accurate diagnosis. This image manipulation eliminates the need for a woman to repeat her mammogram if the first image is deemed unusable.

Ultrasound

The majority of lumps and abnormalities turn out to be benign, not cancerous. A way to determine if a lump is a benign cyst is to perform another imaging procedure called an ultrasound. Ultrasound works by sending high frequency sound waves into the breast. These sound waves produce a pattern of echoes that are changed into an image of the inside of the breast. Ultrasound is painless and can distinguish between tumors that are solid and those that are filled with fluid (cysts). It can also help radiologists evaluate lumps that can be felt but cannot be easily seen on a mammogram.

Breast MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast — or breast MRI — is a test used to detect breast cancer and other abnormalities in the breast. A breast MRI captures multiple images of your breast. Breast MRI images are combined, using a computer, to create detailed pictures. A breast MRI usually is performed after you have a biopsy that’s positive for cancer and your doctor needs more information about the extent of the disease. For some people, a breast MRI may be used with mammograms as a screening tool for detecting breast cancer. That group of people includes women with a high risk of breast cancer, who have a very strong family history of breast cancer or carry a hereditary breast cancer gene mutation.

Emerging Imaging Techniques

Newer types of tests are now being developed for breast imaging. Some of these, such as breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography), are already being used in some centers. Other tests are still being studied, and it will take time to see if they are as good as or better than those used today.

Molecular breast imaging (MBI), also known as scintimammography or breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI), is a type of nuclear medicine imaging test for the breast. A radioactive chemical is injected into the blood, and a special camera is used to see into the breast. This test is being studied mainly as a way to follow up breast problems.

Positron emission mammography (PEM) is a newer imaging test of the breast that is very similar to a PET scan. A form of sugar attached to a radioactive particle is injected into the blood to detect cancer cells. A PEM scan may be better able to detect small clusters of cancer cells within the breast.

Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM), also known as contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM), is a newer test in which a contrast dye containing iodine is injected into a vein a few minutes before two sets of mammograms (using different energy levels) are taken. The contrast can help the x-rays show any abnormal areas in the breasts.

Optical imaging tests pass light into the breast and then measure the light that returns or passes through the tissue. The technique does not use radiation and does not require breast compression. Studies going on now are looking at combining optical imaging with other tests like MRI, ultrasound, or 3D mammography to help look for breast cancer.

Electrical impedance imaging (EIT) scans the breast for electrical conductivity. It’s based on the idea that breast cancer cells conduct electricity differently from normal cells. The test passes a very small electrical current through the breast and then detects it on the skin of the breast.

Elastography is a test that can be done as part of an ultrasound exam. It’s based on the idea that breast cancers tend to be firmer and stiffer than the surrounding breast tissue. For this test, the breast is compressed slightly, and the ultrasound can show how firm a suspicious area is.

If you were recently diagnosed with breast cancer, your head may be swimming and swirling with questions, that all boil down to this: What’s next? The breast cancer care professionals at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology, a part of the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, are able to answer that question in a uniquely powerful way. Hunterdon Hematology Oncology has an entire practice focused solely on breast cancer detection, treatment and eradication, and part of that charge will focus on answering your questions and putting your worries to rest.

First, a word about cancer survivability. “What are my chances, doctor? Am I going to survive?” And the answer today is very much more positive that it was 30 or 40 years ago. Today, the overall survivability rate for breast cancer is in the neighborhood of 70%. Scientific research and early detection techniques are improving the overall trends of both survival rate and quality of life, particularly for breast cancer.

Second, a few words about the treatment process for breast cancer. You may be confused about what you should do next, but the actual treatment process for breast cancer has a certain regularity about it: it usually requires radiation treatment or hormone treatment to shrink the size of the tumor, or chemotherapy, and/or surgery or some combination of these treatment modalities. It depends on the biology of the breast cancer tumor and varies by stage (I – IV).

A little more about cancer staging: Cancer treatment depends on the stage (severity of the tumor). Clinical stage is based initially on mammogram imaging and ultrasound imaging of the suspected tumor. Pathological staging is determined after surgery; after the tumor has been removed and a sample of lymph node tissue is taken. The cancer’s stage is based on the size of the tumor, and whether the lymph node is involved in (affected by) the cancer, as well as the grade of the tumor.

You also might be wondering whether it would be worth it to go to one of those national treatment centers that advertise on TV. The answer is no. Research data indicate no difference in outcomes between national and local cancer centers. First of all, the therapeutic approach for treating breast cancer is standardized across the entire country. Second, HHO specializes in the treatment of breast cancer. HHO has a team of excellent breast surgeons who are dedicated to treating only breast cancer patients. Patients at HHO are assigned a Nurse Navigator who helps the patient coordinate care, navigate the entire process and answer any questions the patient might have.

Also, getting treated locally at HHO has certain advantages over going to one of these large national centers. While getting the exact same level of care and specialization found at a national center, HHO provides a level of personalized attention and care that is difficult to find at a larger center. Being local means that if any issues arise, if you need to come back to the hospital, we are right here and can see you immediately. We offer genetics counseling, and you can come in and out to see him/her very easily. If you need to come in to get a blood count checked, we are right here. Need extra hydration? Ditto. Feeling extra-nauseous? Come on in. We also offer an oncology-certified dietician, with whom you can arrange a visit pretty much any time you want.

And finally, there are actually certain disadvantages to using a large national cancer center. If anything detrimental were to take place, a patient using a large national center might find themselves needing to go to a local ER, and there will be nobody there who is familiar with the patient’s case or will understand what is going on. This can actually be detrimental to their care.

To learn more about Hunterdon Hematology Oncology’s cancer care treatment center NJ visit our breast cancer care page.

Strides in medicine have increased our understanding of its many forms

The American Cancer Society predicts that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Although much less common, they predict that in 2019, 2,670 new invasive breast cancer cases will be diagnosed in men. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, it quickly becomes apparent the term ‘breast cancer’ can have a complicated definition. The last decade has seen huge strides in the disease’s diagnosis and treatment.

An important factor in making such progress has been an increased understanding of the different types of breast cancer. Two useful markers that differentiate the many types of breast cancer are the roles of hormone receptors in the disease’s growth and the location of the disease in the body.

Types of Breast Cancer Based On Receptors

Hormone Positive (HR-positive) and Hormone Negative (HR-negative) Breast Cancer

If a cancer has been labeled HR-positive, its cells have receptors for estrogen and progesterone hormones. Scientists believe these cancer cells grow because they are responding to signals sent by these hormones. If the cancer is labeled HR-negative, the estrogen and progesterone receptors are not present. In addition to isolating the type of hormones that may be driving cell growth, physicians also test for HER2 proteins.

HER2 Positive (Her2+) and HER2 Negative (HER2-) Breast Cancer

The HER2 protein indicates the activity of the HER2 gene. This gene plays a central role in breast cell growth. When there is too much protein present, the diagnosis is said to be HER2+. When little or no protein is present, the cancer is HER2-. HER2-negative cancers tend to grow at a slower rate that HER2+ cancers.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer is both estrogen and progesterone negative, as well as HER2 negative. The term ‘triple negative breast cancer’ is not an official medical term, but it is commonly used to describe the approximately 10-20% of cancers that fit into this category. This cancer is associated with the BRCA1 gene and is more likely to affect young people.

Types of Breast Cancer Based On Location

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

One of the most common types of breast cancer is invasive lobular carcinoma. This cancer is in the breast lobules, which are the areas that produce milk. This cancer most often occurs in women who are 60 years old or older. Unlike other manifestations of cancer that form in lumps, invasive lobular carcinoma spreads in lines though fatty tissue – which can sometimes make it more difficult to detect. Fortunately, it is common for this cancer to be HR+, which means medication can be taken to block the effect of hormones on the cells.

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Ductal carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer and begins in the milk ducts. In many cases it is non-invasive. However, when the cancer spreads outside of the milk ducts, it is then invasive ductile carcinoma. Unlike lobular carcinoma, this disease usually manifests as a mass or lump.

Cancer Treatment

Fortunately, there are now many options available for cancer treatment, and they can be broken down into two broad categories: local and systemic.

Local treatments concentrate on removing or shrinking tumors in a specific location – without affecting other parts of the body. Surgery and radiation are standard methods for local cancer treatment, and they are frequently used in the early stages of cancer.
Systemic treatments are drugs taken by mouth or injection that reach cancer cells throughout the body. This type of cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Depending on what is needed, they can be administered before, during or after local treatments. If treating the disease with surgery or radiation is not an option, they may be used as the primary form of therapy.

Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with one of the many types of breast cancer and have questions regarding diagnosis or treatment? Our cancer specialists are dedicated to making strides in the fight against cancer. Hunterdon Hematology Oncology is home to the nationally recognized regional breast-care program at the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center. Call us today to schedule an appointment with one of our oncologists.

When we think of breast cancer, the prevailing thought is that it only applies to women. This, however, is not true. Men also experience breast cancer, even though it is much less common with only approximately 1% of all breast cancers occurring in men. In 2019, about 2,670 men are expected to be diagnosed with this disease. For men, the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.

Though men do not have what we typically think of as breasts from a physical perspective, they do still have breast tissue. Men typically will not grow entire breasts because of the lack of breast-stimulating hormones. As a result, their breast tissue usually stays flat and small. Men can sometimes develop real breast gland tissue because they take certain medicines or have abnormal hormone levels.

What Increases the Odds of Male Breast Cancer

When the man is between the ages of 60 and 70
A close female relative has breast cancer
History of radiation exposure of the chest
Enlargement of breasts (called gynecomastia) from drug or hormone treatments, or even some infections and poisons
Taking estrogen
When the man has Klinefelter’s syndrome, a rare genetic condition
Severe liver disease, called cirrhosis
Diseases of the testicles such as mumps orchitis, a testicular injury, or an undescended testicle

Symptoms of Breast Cancer in Men

Breast cancer symptoms in men are similar to those in women. A lump in the breast area is a symptom of breast cancers in men. Other symptoms can include nipple abnormalities such as inversion or nipple discharge which could even include blood. When this happens it is important to see your physician as soon as possible to be properly assessed to avoid any delay in diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

We use the same techniques that are used to diagnose breast cancer in women to diagnose men. These include physical exams, mammography, and biopsies. In addition, we employ the same forms of treatment for female breast cancer — surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and hormone therapy — to treat breast cancer in men. The one major difference is that men with breast cancer respond much better to hormone therapy than women do. About 90% of male breast cancers have hormone receptors, meaning that hormone therapy can work in most men to treat the cancer.

Hunterdon Hematology and Oncology, as part of the Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program (HRBCP), specializes in a coordinated approach to breast cancer care, in both men and women. If you or someone you know is in need of breast cancer care, contact us today to schedule a consultation

Breast cancer remains the number-one most common type of cancer diagnosed among women. In the United States, about one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.

Cancer research studies have shown that having higher levels of physical activity actually lowers the risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast cancer. Getting an adequate amount of physical activity can reduce levels of hormones such as estrogen that have been known to be affiliated with the development of breast cancer. Once you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, discovering what kind of physical activity or exercise is best can be a challenge. Yoga is one way women can get the right amount of exercise at any stage of their breast cancer treatment. While it is not meant to be an alternative to standard treatments that your doctor may recommend (like surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy), it can be a correlative therapeutic strategy.

Women with breast cancer often undergo a lot of stress and by focusing on both the mind and the body, yoga can provide women with physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Studies have shown that practicing yoga can improve fatigue and quality of sleep, reduces stress, strengthen physical functioning, and enhance overall quality of life. Low impact stretching poses and movements that are typical of a yoga session can be relaxing and allow an improved sense of well-being.

Yoga exercises can be tailored to a person’s needs or limitations too, but before attempting any form of exercise, including yoga, make sure to talk to your doctor. The cancer specialists at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology are dedicated not only to the effective treatment of cancers, but also to making sure that these treatments are done in a way that impact your overall quality of life as minimally as possible.

Our cancer specialists are dedicated to making strides in the fight against cancer. Hunterdon Hematology Oncology is a home to the nationally recognized regional breast-care program at the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center. The Hunterdon Health and Wellness Centers offer an array of yoga classes and also now have a certified Cancer Exercise Specialist who may be able to build the right type of exercise program for you. For more information including timings and rates, please contact Beth Merola (Cancer Exercise Specialist/Certified Personal Trainer) at either of the Hunterdon Health and Wellness Center locations by calling WhiteHouse Station at 908- 534-7600 and Clinton at 908-735-6884.

A mammogram is an important step in taking care of yourself and your breasts. Women trust Hunterdon Hematology Oncology as part of the Hunterdon Regional Breast Care Program (HRBCP) with regular mammograms and their overall breast health.

The mammograms done at one of several affiliated facilities use a digital format instead of the traditional film mammography you may be used to. This allows the mammogram to be available immediately. A digital image can also be altered and enhanced to allow a more accurate diagnosis and decreases the need for repeat imaging. This information can then be quickly assessed by your medical oncologist at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology and also other potential members of your breast care team which may include a breast surgeon.

Below are some things to expect when getting your mammogram: :

You’ll have to undress above the waist to get a mammogram. You will be given wia wrap to use for your comfort.
For your privacy, you and a nurse are the only ones in the room during the procedure.
During the procedure, the nurse will position your breasts for the mammogram. They will have to flatten your breast on the machine’s plate so that a high-quality digital picture can be obtained..
Due to use of digital imaging, the procedure is much quicker and, you will have limited discomfort compared to a film mammogram. Let your nurse know immediately if you are experiencing any discomfort.

Many of our patients aren’t aware that you should not wear deodorant when getting a mammogram. Most deodorants and antiperspirants contain aluminum. Aluminum blocks your sweat ducts and prevents you from perspiring. The amount of aluminum in the average bar of deodorant is small, however, even a small amount is enough to interfere with a mammogram.

Aluminum particles in deodorant look like tiny white dots on a mammogram. These dots mimic calcifications, which can be an early sign of breast cancer. Aluminum particles make it difficult to distinguish deodorant aluminum from calcifications.

Regular mammograms are important for your breast health. Here at Hunterdon Hematology Oncology we are happy, as part of the Hunterdon Regional Breast Care program, to ensure that our patients have this coordinated quickly and with ease.

Contact your medical oncologist for any concerns or questions regarding your mammogram. Our staff is also happy to help our patients schedule at one of several local imaging facilities, contact us today.

HHO News

It’s Never Too Early to Check for Breast Cancer: Tips for Self Exams