The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a tremendous burden on the healthcare system, resulting in the postponement of elective surgical procedures to preserve limited hospital resources and minimize viral transmission.
The goal of breast cancer surgery is to remove the cancer surrounded by a rim of normal tissue. The main challenge of breast cancer surgery is that some parts of the cancer might not be detectable during surgery using standard procedures. About 30% of women in the U.S. require multiple surgeries to completely remove breast cancer.
To increase the odds of success at the initial surgery, Dr. Holmes uses multiple maneuvers to maximize the odds of complete tumor removal, including:
Using a combination of these techniques, Dr. Holmes maintain among the highest success rates for cancer removal, with reoperation rates of ~5% among women undergoing lumpectomy surgery.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a tremendous burden on the healthcare system, resulting in the postponement of elective surgical procedures to preserve limited hospital resources and minimize viral transmission.
While no one is immune to the COVID-19 virus or the collateral damage that it has caused, breast cancer patient may be particularly concerned about the impact of this crisis on their efforts to maintain their breast and overall health.
Dr. Holmes point of view on the JAMA Oncology editorial that discusses advantages and disadvantages of de-escalating breast cancer surgery.
Read Dr. Holmes response to a cryoablation article where a surgeon in Palm Springs, CA received probation for offering cryoablation as an alternative to surgery for early stage breast cancer.
Choosing To Chill Cryoablation offers new option for breast cancer
Breast pain or mastalgia (“mas-stal-ja”) is one of the most commonly reported symptoms in women presenting with breast complaints.