Treatment Options

When it comes to treatment, our goal is to provide care that's as seamless, advanced, and patient-friendly as possible. As our knowledge of breast cancer increases, so does our ability to tailor treatment to individual patients based on tumor characteristics, genetics, family history, and personal preferences.

Depending on your cancer stage, the characteristics of your tumor, as well as your individual needs and expectations, our specialists will create a personalized treatment plan for you.

Surgical Treatment

Breast-Conserving Surgery (Lumpectomy)

For many patients, breast-conserving surgery removes the tumor while preserving most of the breast. Our surgeons use advanced oncoplastic techniques to achieve the best cosmetic outcomes.

Benefits:

Preserves breast appearance
Equivalent survival to mastectomy for appropriate candidates
Shorter recovery time
Less invasive

Mastectomy

When mastectomy is recommended or chosen, we offer several options:

Simple Mastectomy - Removal of breast tissue
Skin-Sparing Mastectomy - Preserves breast skin for reconstruction
Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy - Preserves nipple and areola when appropriate
Bilateral Mastectomy - Both breasts removed (risk reduction or patient preference)

Lymph Node Surgery

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy - Minimally invasive sampling of first draining lymph nodes
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection - When more extensive lymph node removal is needed

Breast Reconstruction

We offer immediate and delayed reconstruction options to help you feel whole again:

Implant-Based Reconstruction:

Tissue expanders followed by permanent implants
Direct-to-implant reconstruction
Latest implant technologies

Autologous Tissue Reconstruction:

DIEP flap (using abdominal tissue)
Latissimus dorsi flap
Other advanced flap techniques

Oncoplastic Surgery:

Tissue rearrangement techniques
Volume replacement procedures
Symmetry procedures

Medical Oncology Treatment

Chemotherapy

Our medical oncologists are experts in administering and managing chemotherapy regimens:

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (before surgery)
Adjuvant chemotherapy (after surgery)
Treatment for metastatic disease
Personalized regimens based on tumor characteristics

Hormonal Therapy (Endocrine Therapy)

For hormone receptor-positive breast cancers:

Tamoxifen
Aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane)
Ovarian suppression (for premenopausal women)
CDK4/6 inhibitors (for metastatic disease)

Targeted Therapy

For HER2-positive breast cancers:

Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
Pertuzumab (Perjeta)
T-DM1 (Kadcyla)
Neratinib (Nerlynx)
Other novel HER2-targeted agents

Immunotherapy

For triple-negative breast cancer:

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)
Combination with chemotherapy

Precision Medicine

Genomic testing helps guide treatment decisions:

Oncotype DX for early-stage hormone-positive cancer
Foundation One for advanced cancers
Clinical trial matching based on genetic profile

Radiation Therapy

Our radiation oncologists provide personalized, patient-centered radiation treatment:

Techniques:

Whole Breast Radiation - Standard treatment after lumpectomy
Partial Breast Irradiation - Accelerated treatment targeting tumor bed
Hypofractionated Radiation - Shorter course with equivalent outcomes
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) - Single-dose radiation during surgery
Chest Wall Radiation - After mastectomy when indicated
Advanced Planning - Techniques to minimize heart and lung exposure

Your Complete Care Team

Treatment is just one part of your comprehensive care at JHAH. Our integrated approach ensures you have access to all the services you need throughout your journey.

Before Treatment Begins Our Diagnosis & Testing services provide the detailed information needed to create your personalized treatment plan, including molecular testing and genetic analysis that guide therapy decisions.

During Treatment Our Support & Survivorship Services help you manage side effects, maintain your quality of life, and connect with others on similar journeys. From nutrition counseling to emotional support, we're here for every aspect of your care.

Specialized Care Options If you have young-onset, hereditary, triple-negative, or metastatic breast cancer, our Specialized Programs offer targeted expertise and advanced treatment protocols designed for your specific situation.

Ongoing Monitoring After treatment, our Prevention & Screening programs provide enhanced surveillance to monitor your health and detect any changes early.