Breast Cancer Care in Portland-Vancouver

If you've recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, you will likely have many questions about the kind of doctor you should see, your specific type of breast cancer, the stage of your breast cancer, and what treatments are available. We're here to answer your questions.

Start here for a useful guide to your first appointment and what to expect when you're in the hands of Compass Oncology.

The breast cancer care team at Compass Oncology is comprised of a variety of specialists, including:

• Breast surgical oncologists
• High-risk breast clinic
• Medical and radiation oncologists
• Genetic risk counselors

Doctors recommend that women have regular clinical breast exams and mammograms to find breast cancer early. During an office visit, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. It is also normal for your doctor to order one or more imaging tests, such as a mammogram.

There are certain types of breast cancers that are more common than others. Four specific types of common breast cancer include:

1. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
2. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
3. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)
4. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)

It is important that your oncologist knows which hormones, if any, are involved in the growth of your breast cancer. They will run some tests that indicate the hormone receptor status and HER2/neu status of the breast cancer tumor. 

Lymph node status is another factor that can affect your breast cancer treatment decisions and prognosis. To determine if lymph nodes are involved, your breast cancer surgeon will remove one or more lymph nodes from your underarm to biopsy and examine under a microscope.

If the biopsy shows that you have breast cancer, your doctor needs to learn the disease’s extent to choose the best breast cancer treatment options for you. The stage of your breast cancer is based on the size of the tumor and whether it has spread.

You and your oncologist will work together to decide on the treatment that’s best for you, based on the stage of your breast cancer and other factors. Treatment options can include surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy.

Surgery is an essential part of treating breast cancer. Breast surgical oncologists specialize in the treatment of breast cancer using various surgical techniques depending on each patient’s condition.  

While breast cancer treatments are necessary and helpful, the side effects can be difficult. Our experts have put together some of the most common side effects you may experience during breast cancer treatments and how you can combat them. 

You might choose to undergo breast cancer reconstruction. This can happen after or during a mastectomy.

There are many types of reconstruction that depend on your age, body type, and the type of surgery you had. You and an oncoplastic surgeon will explore your options together before a decision is made.

Compass Oncology and The US Oncology Network work together to provide cancer research and clinical trials for new breast cancer treatment therapies. 

Search for a breast cancer clinical trial that might be ideal for your type of breast cancer.

Five to ten percent of breast cancers are associated with inherited factors. This means that the vast majority of breast cancer patients do not have a family history. However, if you have a first-degree female relative diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk is doubled.

Knowing what to look for can help you be proactive in detecting breast cancer so you can have a better outcome. The most common sign of breast cancer is a lump or mass, but additional warning signs can also be easily detectable

Clinicians in the High-Risk Breast Clinic are dedicated to educating patients and their families about their risk of developing breast cancer and providing interventions to reduce risk and increase the odds of early detection.

From local support groups to ongoing classes, genetic risk testing to financial counseling and patient assistance programs, the specialists at Compass Oncology are here for you every step of the way.

We encourage you to learn more and take advantage of our supportive care services, including our Women’s Cancer monthly support group at our Vancouver, WA location.

With a breast cancer diagnosis comes the need for support. There are many cancer support groups and organizations to choose from that will help you in every step of your journey with group gatherings, reading materials, and more.

CompassTalks features the physicians, advanced practice providers, and supportive care providers at Compass Oncology speaking about breast cancer care. Videos include information on preparing for cancer treatments, the basics of cancer, raising awareness, and the most recent developments in cancer treatments. 

View all of our Breast Cancer talks.