Breast Cancer Surgeon located in Santa Monica, CA, Los Angeles, CA and Glendale, CA Dennis R. Holmes, M.D., F.A.C.S., with locations in Glendale and Los Angeles, California, is an expert in breast cryoablation (tumor freezing) with over 15 years of experience treating benign tumors and breast cancers. He serves as principal investigator of the FROST Trial, a national clinical trial (currently closed to new enrollment) evaluating the use of cryoablation as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of early stage breast cancer. He also serves as principal investigator of a new study evaluating the use of cryoablation in the management of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or non-invasive breast cancer.
Joan Lunden Interviews Dr. Holmes about Cryoablation
Cryoablation is a groundbreaking new treatment for breast tumor freezing. Cryoablation has been used for many years on liver, skin, and cervical cancers, as well as benign tumors of the breast. It is not until recently, however, that cryoablation has been adapted to treat breast cancer. The results of a national study co-authored by Dr. Holmes found cryoablation to be most effective at killing invasive breast cancers measuring 2 cm or smaller.
The cryoablation procedure is similar to having an ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of the breast. The procedure is performed in the office with the patient awake and comfortable. First, ultrasound of the breast is performed to identify the location of the cancer. Next, local anesthetic is injected into the skin and into the interior of the breast. A small (3 mm) skin incision is made, followed by the insertion of a needle-like instrument called a cryoprobe through the center of the breast cancer using ultrasound to guide the way. The cryoablation system is then turned on and liquid nitrogen circulates within the cryoprobe to freeze the cancer and a surrounding rim of normal tissue to a temperature of -185 Celcius, an extremely cold cancer-killing temperature. The freezing process takes approximately 30 minutes and the entire procedure typically takes about 1 hour from start to finish.
For detailed information about cryoablation and to observe a video of Dr. Holmes performing an actual cryoablation procedure, visit www.cryoablation.com or YouTube.
View Video of Cryoablation Procedure
Cryoablation may be obtained under the following circumstances:
The DCIS Cryoablation Trial: Nearly all invasive breast cancers arise out of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is commonly called pre-invasive breast cancer or non-invasive breast cancer. If not for the risk of invasive cancer and its potential to metastasize, surgical removal of DCIS would be completely unnecessary. Cryoablation or tumor freezing is a minimally invasive office procedure that has the potential to replace surgery as an invasive cancer prevention option for women with small areas of DCIS. In this study, cryoablation will provide a minimally-invasive invasive breast cancer treatment option for women with DCIS measuring 2 cm or less based on standard breast imaging (Ultrasound, Mammogram, +/- breast MRI).
The DCIS Cryoablation Study is open to the following:
Patients will not be charged for the cryoablation procedure if their insurer does not pay for cryoablation procedure. All other standard breast procedures will be billed to your insurer. Usual insurance deductibles may apply.
To find out more about the DCIS Cryoablation Trial, please visit: https://helenreybreastcancerfoundation.com/dcis-cryoablation-study
Off-Protocol: Women who are not eligible for the DCIS Cryoablation Trial can possibly receive cryoablation on a case-by-case basis. Possible “off-protocol” uses of cryoablation were summarized in a recent medical journal article authored by Dr. Holmes, titled “Breast Cancer Care During a Pandemic: An Opportune Time For Cryoablation?” To find out if you are eligible for cryoablation, you may schedule an office appointment with Dr. Holmes or submit your case online for consideration by following the instructions at the following link: https://www.cryoablation.com/submit-your-case-online.
Out of town patients seeking cryoablation will find the following link to be helpful: https://www.cryoablation.com/out-of-town-patients.
To verify complete tumor kill, patients treated with cryoablation will generally be advised to undergo breast imaging and repeat needle biopsy of the cryoablation site six months after cryoablation to confirm that no living cancer cells remain. Surgical removal of cancer will be recommended only if living cancer cells are found. Follow-up mammograms +/- breast MRI is recommended yearly after cryoablation.
For Learn More About Cryoablation, please visit www.cryoablation.com.
"He treated my daughter who had stage one breast cancer. He put us at ease and calmed our fears , he was the perfect surgeon for our situation."
"He has to be one of the most incredible doctor that I've been blessed to have on my survival team. He's saved my life! I'm a proud 28 yr B C survivor."
"Dr. Holmes is kind, professional, and has a lot of patience answering every question you might have."
"Great and SMART staff. Great place with ZERO infection rate. I was back to work after surgery way sooner then expected! Awesome place great center."
