Comprehensive Team Treatment for Breast Cancer Patients

The breast multidisciplinary team serves as a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach for assessing, planning, monitoring, coordinating and evaluating the delivery of cancer care services. 

The team meets weekly to discuss cases and is comprised of medical experts including:

  • Medical oncologists
  • Radiation oncologists
  • Surgeons
  • Plastic surgeons
  • Radiologists
  • Internists
  • A nutritionist
  • A nurse navigator
  • Pathologist 
  • Clinical trials
  • Social worker
  • Genetic counseling 

Initiatives developed by the breast multidisciplinary team have included breast screening and treatment guidelines for breast cancer based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, as well as standardized pathology reports.

In addition, the team is developing an awareness and screening calendar that includes community speaking engagements, continuing medical education (CME) and screening forums. Their collaborative initiatives are ongoing and publicized every October, during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Screening for breast cancer begins with a mammogram at the Telfair Pavilion, a designated Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology and part of the team at the LCRP who earned accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. St. Joseph's/Candler also has other locations for mammograms, please go here to find them


Personal Breast Cancer Treatment Planning

Once your breast cancer has been diagnosed and classified, your team of breast specialists will work together to determine your best treatment schedule. Your treatment will be tailored to your specific needs, based on variables such as type and stage of cancer and whether the cancer is sensitive to certain hormones.


Surgical Breast Cancer Treatments

Lumpectomy

During this surgical procedure, the tumor and cancerous tissue inside the breast is removed, while leaving the rest of the breast attached. Occasionally, surrounding lymph nodes will also be removed. Because of new technology in the surgical field, the survival rate of patients who undergo lumpectomies is equal to that of the patients who receive a mastectomy.


Mastectomy

This procedure is the surgical removal of the entire breast. Because of the size, type or depth of certain cases, a mastectomy is sometimes the optimal choice to prevent cancer from returning. After your mastectomy, we welcome you to visit our Transformation Station center for breast prosthetic options.


Learn more in this article


Other Breast Cancer Treatments

Treatment options include:


Chemotherapy administration of medicines designed to destroy cancerous cells given either orally or through IV. 


Radiation Therapy – the use of high powered radiation or radioactive elements to kill cancerous cells.

Targeted Therapy – medications administered to specifically target proteins on breast cancer cells in order to block messages that cause the cancer cells to grow or replicate, resulting in inhibition of growth or destruction of the cancer cells.

 

Meet the Breast Team Physicians

Richard J. Greco, M.D.

Christine A. Green, M.D.

David R. Knopf, M.D.

Robert Myers, M.D.

John A. Pablo, M.D.

Yana Puckett, M.D.

Catherine Ronaghan, M.D.

Mark A. Taylor, M.D.

Emma Walker, D.O.


For More Information about Comprehensive Cancer Surgical Care

For information about cancer surgical services or comprehensive cancer services and physician specialists at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion, please call 912-819-5704. We look forward to helping you.

 

Nancy N. and J.C.
Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion
225 Candler Dr.,
Savannah, GA 31405
912-819-5704

St. Joseph's Hospital Campus 
11705 Mercy Blvd.,
Savannah, GA 31419
912-819-4100

Candler Hospital Campus 
5353 Reynolds St.,
Savannah, GA 31405
912-819-6000