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To make an appointment
617-724-4800
Surgical Oncologists have undergone additional
specialty training in oncology, and offer
the highest degree of specialization and
expertise. Surgery for breast cancer may
be complex, and published data have demonstrated
that hospitals and surgeons with the highest
volume experience with specific operations
have the lowest complication and death
rates. Recognizing the relationship between
frequency of performing an operation and
the quality of outcomes, each breast surgeon
in the Division of Surgical Oncology focuses
his or her clinical practice on the management
of only breast diseases.
The Massachusetts General Hospital Division
of Surgical Oncology offers state-of-the-art
breast cancer surgery and provides access
to the latest developments in surgical
and radiation techniques. The majority
of our patients undergo lumpectomy and
minimally invasive sentinel node biopsy
and are able to return to full activity
within a week. Our surgeons have been
pioneers in the technique of sentinel
node biopsy which reduces discomfort and
side effects. Ongoing studies are utilizing
radiation rather than full axillary dissection
for women with cancer in the axillary
nodes to reduce the risk of lymphedema
and chronic shoulder and arm problems
after breast cancer surgery. Selected
patients with small, favorable tumors
are offered the option of a partial breast
irradiation or partial breast irradiation
with proton beam which is a four day course
of radiation treatments rather than the
standard 6-7 week treatment. For patients
who require mastectomy, skin-sparing mastectomies
are performed with immediate reconstruction
by experienced plastic surgeons who perform
large numbers of reconstruction procedures
each year.
There are five full-time, specialized
breast surgeons who work closely with
breast radiologists, radiation oncologists,
medical oncologists, plastic/reconstructive
surgeons, and pathologists to develop
treatment plans tailored to the individual
patient and her disease. These five
surgeons limit their practice to breast
diseases. Women with newly diagnosed
breast cancer are evaluated in Gillette
Center for Breast Cancer's multidisciplinary
sessions, where they can meet with
a surgeon, radiation oncologist and
medical oncologist, have their mammograms
and pathology slides reviewed, and
receive definitive treatment recommendations
in a single visit. This team also collaborates
closely with the genetic counselors
in the Center
for Cancer Risk Analysis - Breast
& Ovarian Cancer Genetics & Risk
Assessment Program. Genetic counseling
is offered to assess hereditary risk
in young patients and patients with
strong family histories of breast cancer.
A wide variety of educational and support
services are available for women and
their families as they go through diagnosis,
treatment and recovery.
Surgical Oncology
Team
Surgeons in the Division of Surgical Oncology
who specialize in breast cancer surgery
are faculty members of Harvard Medical
School and regularly teach other physicians
in Continuing Medical Education courses.
Specialists in breast cancer surgery:
Michele Gadd, MD
Kevin Hughes, MD
Barbara Smith, MD, PhD
Michelle Specht, MD
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