Breast surgeons are surgical oncologists who specialize in treating breast disease. Many breast surgeries can be performed on an outpatient basis, and are performed in an ambulatory suite. If radiation therapy is recommended, the patient will confer with a radiation oncologist who specializes in the treatment of breast cancer. A medical oncologist specializing in treating breast cancer will discuss chemotherapy or hormone therapy as part of an overall treatment plan, if appropriate. The nurse coordinator and nurse practitioner help guide women through the complex diagnostic and treatment process and help prepare them for surgery.
Many women choose to have reconstructive surgery at the same time as their breast surgery.
It can also be performed after other treatment is completed. A plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction works with the breast team to outline choices during treatment planning. All cases are reviewed weekly by the entire breast team. Complex cases requiring multiple therapies are thoroughly discussed and a consensus treatment plan recommended.