In fact, there is a 33% increase in breast cancer specific and overall mortality in obese individuals with a BMI >30. Furthermore, obesity at diagnosis of breast cancer is linked to a higher risk of the cancer coming back after treatment. This is true for pre- and post-menopausal women. In summary, the best thing you can do to prevent breast cancer and cancer in general, is maintain a healthy body weight with your diet and regular exercise.
In patients with a standard risk of breast cancer, screening is done with a mammogram. In women who have dense breast tissue that may obscure small masses or calcifications, a tomosynthesis or “3-D mammogram” may be preferred. Patients with an elevated risk of breast cancer of 20-25% or greater over their lifetime may be screened with a combination of mammograms and MRI alternating every 6 months. To discuss which type of screening is right for you, talk to your primary care physician or please feel free to schedule a consult with our office.
and further clarify if a biopsy (taking a small sample of the tissue) is required. It is very important to understand that just because you get called back for more imaging DOES NOT necessarily mean you have breast cancer! If a biopsy is required, this can be done by the radiologist or possibly a breast surgeon. Once this is done, the tissue will be sent to a pathologist who looks at the tissue under a microscope, where a diagnosis can be made. You will receive a phone call from the office where the biopsy was performed, and if any further treatment is required, you will be sent to your breast surgeon where options will be discussed
will be made for you if you are diagnosed with breast cancer. Your surgeon and other physicians will discuss this together at a multidisciplinary conference and with you at each visit.
that looks specifically at the area of concern and may include an ultrasound as well. These imaging studies will look at the mass or calcifications and further clarify if a biopsy (taking a small sample of the tissue) is required. It is very important to understand that just because you get called back for more imaging DOES NOT necessarily mean you have breast cancer! If a biopsy is required, this can be done by the radiologist or possibly a breast surgeon. Once this is done, the tissue will be sent to a pathologist who looks at the tissue under a microscope, where a diagnosis can be made. You will receive a phone call from the office where the biopsy was performed, and if any further treatment is required, you will be sent to your breast surgeon where options will be discussed
“Passionate about educating and empowering patients concerning their disease, and guiding them through treatment with confidence.”
The best way to tackle breast cancer is with support and empowerment; that’s what I strive to provide as a fellowship trained Nashville Breast Surgeon. Whether you have a benign breast disease or breast cancer it is important to understand, you are not alone.
Dr. Lindsay Keith is the ONLY fellowship trained breast surgical oncologist in Murfreesboro, TN.
Ultrasound-guided biopsies can be done in the office on the same day as your appointment. Most facilities will have you wait until the next available biopsy date, which is often weeks at a time.
Dr. Keith will guide you from a diagnosis of breast cancer through treatment, keeping you informed and reducing your anxiety throughout the whole process.
When a patient is first diagnosed with breast cancer, it may feel like their entire world has collapsed. After this initial reaction, it is time to think about treatment. Part of the doctor’s job is to restore their confidence and help them feel empowered about treatment.
Breast cancer treatment is very much individualized for each patient and is based on the type and stage of their breast cancer, but more importantly, the subtype or biology of their breast cancer. The initial step is to find a breast surgeon who will act as the “quarterback” of the team of doctors that will be needed to treat this disease process.
A fellowship-trained breast surgeon has studied all aspects of breast cancer from the genes that cause cancer, diagnosis, pathology and all aspects of treatment for this disease process. Dr. Lindsay Keith is the only fellowship-trained breast surgeon in Murfreesboro and spent an extra year past general surgery residency to fulfill this role.
Dr. Keith reaches her patients on a personal level and from the first visit, aims to ease some of the fear and uncertainty that invariably comes with a diagnosis of breast cancer. What makes her process more impactful is that she starts by establishing trust with her patients. Her goal is always to establish a positive, stress-free environment that allows patients to express what they’re going through and, in the process, gain strength and courage to fight breast cancer.
Establishing a comfortable environment for patients is essential. At Dr. Keith’s clinic in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the office is designed for comfort and accessibility. We are in a beautiful, quiet part of the city away from the traffic of Nashville. It is the perfect place to get treatment – and for patients who live in Murfreesboro’s surrounding cities, treatment can be given closer to home.
A female breast cancer surgeon may be more comfortable to patients and is able to establish trust with the patient, perhaps in a way that male surgeons may not be able to. Since a female doctor can empathize with patients in a more personal way, the more physical aspects of the treatment are less intimidating. Empowerment is her goal, and that happens even before the surgery is performed. For most patients, it makes a big difference to have the doctor show support and encouragement before surgery.
Dr. Keith also treats other non-breast cancer (benign) breast issues, including fibroadenomas, cysts, and breast pain. Once you are seen, she can offer a treatment plan based on relevant factors such as your age, imaging needs, family history and the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
In terms of prevention, there is no definite way to prevent the development of breast cancer. However, some people are at a higher risk because of a genetic mutation that they inherited from a parent. If you have two or more family members who have had breast cancer, you may be at higher risk of getting breast cancer than the general population. Dr. Keith can help determine if you qualify for genetic testing. If you need someone to guide you with confidence about issues concerning your breasts, call Dr. Keith for a consult.
In recent years, there has been an interest in exploring alternative treatments that are best used in adjunct with traditional treatments for breast cancer, not
Mastectomy – a mastectomy is the removal of all breast tissue, as defined by anatomic boundaries of the breast. The most common reason for this
Treating Breast Cancer Have you recently been diagnosed with breast cancer? If you don’t already, you will soon have lots of questions about your future
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