A recently published study in Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Oncology found treatment for women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a noninvasive cancer confined to a milk duct, does not lessen the chance they will die from breast cancer.
Dr.
Maurice Rawlings, surgical oncologist and director of the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center, doesn’t want the study’s results to discourage patients from getting an appropriate evaluation. He says a DCIS diagnosis is complex and treatment options should be individualized for each patient. “Certain women, especially older women, may not need any treatment while younger women may well need an aggressive approach. Wide treatment options exist and could include a lumpectomy, radiation and sometimes mastectomy,” explains Dr. Rawlings.
Dr. Rawlings says the number of patients diagnosed with DCIS is increasing because more women are getting mammograms. “About one-third of our cases each year are diagnosed as DCIS. We use that diagnosis as a marker to determine future risk of developing other types of breast cancer.”
Women diagnosed with any type of breast cancer benefit from the services provided at the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center. It is an all-inclusive center which allows women to go from a screening mammogram to a complete diagnostic work up in one appointment. Dr. Maurice Rawlings says, “The advantage of this center is that each new patient is evaluated by an entire team of specialists which includes specialty trained breast surgeons, breast specific radiologists, pathologists, medical and radiation oncologists, reconstructive surgeons and oncology nurses dedicated to breast only care. This team evaluates each case to determine the proper treatment for each patient ensuring no one is undertreated or overtreated.”
Dr. Rawlings also says, "We have a very good test in mammography to screen for breast cancer. The issue is to have it appropriately interpreted by an imaging specialist in mammography so unnecessary biopsies can be avoided and then have specialty surgeons involved so over/under treatment will be avoided also. This is why we exist as a regionally recognized breast Center of Excellence."
If you are a woman age 40 or better, please call (423) 495-4040 to schedule your screening mammogram.