Treatment
The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center takes a team approach. Our disease-specific teams include doctors and other healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines with experience treating your cancer. Together, these experts create an individualized plan of treatment designed to meet your needs, based on the biology and stage of your cancer. Our doctors examine the unique genetic features of your breast cancer to match you with the treatments that are most likely to be effective.
Your personalized treatment plan may include:
Breast Cancer Surgery
Our surgeons skillfully perform a range of procedures to remove breast tumors, including:
- Lumpectomy: A procedure to remove small tumors, sparing remaining healthy breast tissue.
- Mastectomy: Complete removal of the breast. Our surgeons are experienced in nipple-sparing and skin-sparing mastectomy. They also offer prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy to reduce breast cancer risk in people with a genetic predisposition to this disease.
- Reconstructive surgery: If you wish to have breast reconstruction, our surgeons are skilled in several types of procedures, such as oncoplastic reconstruction and breast reduction for women who have had lumpectomy and implants or tissue flaps for those who have had a mastectomy.
Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer
Many patients have radiation therapy as part of their treatments to target and destroy any cancer cells remaining in the breast after surgery. Englewood Health’s radiation oncology team, based at the Coe Radiation Oncology Center at our main Englewood Hospital campus, uses advanced technologies such as Vision-RT® to continuously track the breast during treatment, automatically pausing if the patient moves. We also use techniques like DIBH (deep inspiration breath hold) to protect the heart during radiation therapy to the left breast.
Breast Cancer Medications
Several medications have been developed in recent years for patients with breast cancer. At our Infusion Center, located on the Englewood Hospital campus, our medical oncologists and oncology nurses offer a comfortable and convenient experience for patients returning often for therapy. We also offer medical treatments at our Jersey City and Fair Lawn locations.
Some breast cancer medications can be taken orally (by mouth) or given by injection in your doctor's office (such as fulvestrant, a type of hormonal therapy). If you need medical treatment for breast cancer, your care team will discuss the most effective options for you. These choices may include:
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells. We examine the genetic features of your breast tumor to match you with the most effective drugs, which may reduce the need for chemotherapy while achieving excellent outcomes with fewer side effects.
- Hormone therapy: Some breast cancers are fueled by hormones such as estrogen or progesterone. Hormonal therapies are available that block this cancer-fueling activity. Oncologists often recommend hormone therapy after breast cancer surgery to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back.
- Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy boosts the power of your immune system to find and attack cancer cells. Some people with certain types of advanced breast cancer (such as triple-negative breast cancer) may receive immunotherapy.
- Targeted therapy: Targeted therapies take aim at specific molecules that promote breast cancer growth or spread. Some of these drugs can be taken orally.
- Clinical trials: Our oncologists participate in many clinical trials evaluating promising new treatment options for breast cancer. A clinical trial may give you access to a cutting-edge therapy that is not yet available as a standard treatment. Our oncologists will let you know if you may be eligible for any clinical trials. The decision to participate is entirely yours.
Geriatric Oncology for Breast Cancer
At Englewood Health, we offer specialized care for older adults diagnosed with breast cancer. Our team focuses on the unique needs of elderly patients, tailoring treatment plans to address both the cancer and any age-related health concerns. With a comprehensive approach that balances effective cancer treatment and maintaining quality of life, we provide personalized care that takes into account the patient's overall well-being and treatment tolerability.
Managing Treatment Side Effects
Cancer treatments can lead to side effects such as fatigue or nausea, which can significantly impact your quality of life. Our cancer care team works closely with palliative care specialists to provide medications and other therapies to manage these side effects. Hair loss is a common concern during breast cancer treatment. We offer advanced scalp cooling techniques in our outpatient chemotherapy infusion center to help minimize hair loss during treatment.
Survivorship Services
After completing multidisciplinary therapy, patients are guided through a comprehensive survivorship meeting. This meeting provides an opportunity to review the treatments received and establish a personalized plan for ongoing surveillance and follow-up care. Our team will assess your current health status, discuss strategies for monitoring your recovery, and help ensure you have the necessary support for long-term well-being following breast cancer treatment.