Is breast cancer treatable?
A: Yes, breast cancer is treatable.
Q: Do I
need to leave the Princeton area to get
A: No, Dr. Dultz is well educated and highly
qualified to provide the best possible care
for her breast cancer patients and their families.
She works with other specialists who are equally
well trained and qualified.
is breast cancer?
A: Breast cancer is a process that begins
when the cells of the breast undergo malignant
changes. The normal cell is damaged and
converts into a cell thatbegins to grow in an
uncontrolled growth pattern. If the cancer cells
continue to grow, they may spread to other sites in the body. This
is called metastasis.
causes breast cancer?
A: The causes of breast cancer are not known. There are factors
associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Being female is the highest risk factor. In addition, advancing
age, family history and environmental factors are thought to contribute
to the development of breast cancer.
Q: What are the symptoms
of breast cancer?
A: Most of the time there are no symptoms with breast cancer. It
usually is found in a mammogram or as a lump in the breast that
isn’t painful. However, ANY change in your breast should
be checked by your doctor. Other changes may include:
- Thickening in the breast,
- Redness, swelling, warmness or darkening
of the breast
- Pucker –A pucker is an indentation
in the skin. Ladies look in the mirror and raise your arms.
You may only see it when you lift your arm above
- Pulling or tightening in the breast
- Pain or tenderness not tied to your
- Nipple tenderness, discharge, or physical
changes to the nipple such as inversion
is a mammogram?
A: A mammogram is a low dose radiation x-ray that is used to look
inside of the breast. It is the best screening tool that is widely
available to detect breast cancer at its earliest, most treatable
stages. Mammograms can detect cancers even when they are too small
to be felt by you or your doctor.
should you get a screening mammogram?
A: The experts have shown that early detection is very important
to surviving breast cancer. Mammograms can detect cancers that
are very small. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of
cancer in women and it is also one of the most detectable cancers
because of screening mammograms. If a cancer is found on a mammogram
and treated early, the survival rate is excellent.
should get a mammogram?
A: Women 40 years of age and older should get yearly mammograms.
A woman under 40 with either a family history of breast cancer,
or other concerns about her risk, should inquire from her doctor
when to begin screening. Sometimes, these women begin screening
earlier than 40 years old.
are the recommendations for the early detection of breast
A: Women 40 or over should have a clinical breast exam yearly performed
by her doctor. In addition, a mammogram should be performed yearly.
Although there is some discussion about the importance of monthly
breast self examination, a woman should know what her breasts feel
like so she could detect any changes that may occur. She should
discuss this with her doctor. This is important because although
mammograms do detect most cancers, approximately 10% of cancers
are not seen with a regular mammogram.
Q: Do young
women get breast cancer?
A: Yes. Although
the majority of breast cancer occursin older
women, it can occur in young women too. Any
lump found at any age needs professional evaluation
by a doctor.
do I do if I find a Lump?
A: Go to your doctor. Any new lump needs to be evaluated regardless
of a woman’s age or history. This may begin with a thorough
history and physical exam and may necessitate a mammogram or a
sonogram. She may need a biopsy as well.
is a biopsy?
A: A biopsy is when a part of the tissue is taken for pathologic
evaluation. There are several different types of biopsies that
can be performed. Most can be done in the office with local anesthesia
while others may need to be done in the operating room.
What if my biopsy shows a cancer?
A: Fortunately today, there is a lot of progress that has been
made with the treatment and outcomes for breast cancer. There are
several surgical options as well as new medical and radiation options
for women with breast cancer. In addition, there are many areas
or excellent resources to turn to for information, help and support.
Breast cancer can be treated successfully if it is detected early.
will help me through the process once I have been
Do I Need So Many Doctors?
diagnosed with breast cancer?
A: In my office and at our breast center, we are lucky to have
a Breast Navigator and an excellent, caring staff that will help
a patient through the scary and unknown path of this devastating
diagnosis. She will help you set up appointments with referring
doctors, facilitate additional tests if needed and provide ongoing
emotional support to the patient and the family.
A: If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, your chances for getting
the best possible results are greatest when you're first diagnosed.
Because of this, it's very important that all cancer specialists
involved in your diagnosis and treatment participate in discussions
that will determine the strategy for your breast cancer care. Also,
the fact that they are all working together ensures that all doctors
are on the same page and considering the whole landscape of your
treatment, not just their specialty.
Does Each Specialist Do?
Breast Surgical Oncologist
A surgeon who has completed his or her general surgery residency
and has gone on to complete a fellowship in breast surgical oncology.
During a breast fellowship, the surgeon not only learns the latest
surgical techniques for performing biopsies and operations for
breast cancer, but she/he also spends time with the other experts
in breast cancer, such as the medical oncologists, radiation oncologists
and plastic surgeons. This additional training allows the surgeon
to understand all aspects of the breast cancer treatment- from
diagnosis to surgery to chemotherapy to radiation. The breast surgeon
has to work very closely with the other oncologists to provide
the best and latest care for patients with breast cancer to ensure
the best results.
A physician who specializes in the medical treatment of cancer.
Medical oncologists have a thorough knowledge of how cancers
behave and grow. This knowledge is used to calculate your risk
of recurrence as well as the possible need for and benefits of
additional or adjuvant therapy (such as chemotherapy or hormonal
therapy). Your medical oncologist generally manages your overall
medical care and monitors your general health during your course
of treatment. He or she checks your progress frequently, reviews
your lab and X-ray results and coordinates your medical care
before and after your course of treatment.
Radiologists. Specialists who are trained at interpreting X-rays
or other forms of imaging that look into the body.
A physician trained in cancer treatment using radiation to reduce
the chance of the cancer from returning. They work very closely
with the breast surgeon to plan the best way to deliver the radiation
to the breast or chest wall after surgery.
A plastic surgeon who specializes in state of the art breast reconstructive
techniques to help restore the body after major surgery. They
work very closely with the breast surgeon and usually at the
same time as the breast surgeon. The plastic surgeons that Dr.
Dultz frequently works with have completed additional training
in breast reconstruction, including complicated flap reconstructions
and also implant reconstruction.
A specialist trained at interpreting x-rays and other forms of
imaging. A radiologist is often the first doctor to identify
a problem in the breast and direct them to Dr. Dultz.
Breast Health Navigator
A registered nurse who has received the certification of Breast
Health Navigator assists patients by coordinating care and providing
education and support.