Expert breast cancer treatment in Minnesota and western Wisconsin

A breast cancer diagnosis can leave you overwhelmed and unsure what to do next. We’re here to help you find answers.

Together we’ll discuss how you’re feeling, answer your questions and get started on creating a personalized treatment plan.

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, we approach cancer treatment by understanding the impact it has both physically and mentally. We offer you the latest in advanced treatment and integrative therapies to help reduce the side effects of treatment.

Our combined team of board-certified oncologists, breast surgeons, radiologists, plastic surgeons, nurse navigators and other specialists are experts in treating even the most complex cases of breast cancer.

We’re proud to say that our breast cancer care outcomes beat the national average. Through research, clinical trials and state-of-the-art breast cancer centers and clinics, high-quality care is always close to home.

Breast cancer occurs when breast cells start to grow out of control and crowd out other, healthy cells. Breast cancer cells can often form tumors that feel like lumps in your breast. If left untreated, it can spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.

Symptoms of breast cancer may differ from person to person. You may notice a change in the way your breast feels or the way your skin looks on your breast. You also may see a change in your nipple or have fluid that comes out of your nipple. A common symptom is a painless lump or thickening in the breast or underarm.

If you experience any of these symptoms it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with one of our primary care doctors. Our primary care doctors are experts in diagnosing hundreds of conditions. Anytime you have new or unusual symptoms that you are concerned about or are worsening, you should call your doctor’s office to decide on next steps.

If you’ve been told you need to have additional tests, some common diagnostic tests include:

During a mammogram, your breasts will be gently compressed so an X-ray can take photos of your breast tissue at different angles. Many people are surprised that mammograms are more comfortable than they anticipated. There is some pressure applied to your breasts, but the test usually lasts just a few minutes.

An ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging test that bounces soundwaves off your breast tissue and creates a picture of the inside of your breast. During an ultrasound, we’ll move a small device over your skin.

An MRI is a non-invasive imaging test that uses radio waves and a magnetic field to create an image of your breast tissue. This test is usually used after someone has been diagnosed with breast cancer. It can help your doctor determine the size and placement of tumors to help inform your treatment plan.

It’s common for breasts to develop small masses and growths that aren’t cancerous. A breast biopsy is often used to determine whether a mass is benign (harmless) or made of cancerous tissue. During a biopsy, a small amount of the mass is removed from your breast so it can be examined under a microscope by a pathologist. Anesthetic is used to make the procedure more comfortable. Depending on your condition, you might need a biopsy done with a fine needle or a surgical biopsy to remove the mass for testing. We’ll talk to you about which biopsy is the best option for you.

View our diagnostic imaging locations:

• HealthPartners Cancer Center at Regions Hospital
• Jane Brattain Breast Center
• Stillwater Medical Group Lakeview Campus

Advancements in cancer research have found that each person’s response to cancer treatment is unique. We recognize that no two treatment plans are exactly alike and work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan. There are many different treatment options available to treat breast cancer. It’s likely you’ll need a combination of treatment options for the best results. Our team of oncologists, breast cancer surgeons and nurses will work together to find a personalized treatment plan for you.

Some common treatments for breast cancer include:

Surgery is used to remove cancerous tumors or cells that are affected by cancer. Our doctors will recommend the most effective surgery option for your condition. Before surgery, we’ll answer all your questions and make sure you know exactly what to expect before, during and after.

Our breast surgeons always try to save as much healthy tissue as possible while removing all the cancer cells. If breast cancer is caught early, a lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery or partial mastectomy) is often used to remove the lumps. When treating later stage breast cancer, mastectomies might be used to remove the entire breast to ensure that all cancer cells are removed.

These surgeries can change the way your body looks and feels. Some women choose to reshape their breasts after treatment with reconstructive surgery.

We have the largest group of plastic surgeons in the Twin Cities with surgeons who specialize in breast reconstruction. Our plastic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and will work closely with you and your surgical oncologist so they can understand your goals and create a customized plan for achieving them.

Chemotherapy, often called “chemo,” uses drugs to kill cancerous cells throughout the entire body. Your doctor might recommend chemotherapy to treat cancer cells that have spread (metastasized) from the primary tumor. It’s commonly used to treat cancer or stop cancer from growing by shrinking the tumors.

Radiation therapy is used to treat and manage cancer in affected areas of the body by using beams of intense energy to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can’t heal damage caused by radiation. Radiation therapy can be used alone or along with other treatments like surgery or chemotherapy.

Targeted therapy is a new type of treatment that uses medicines to directly target cancer cells. This treatment can isolate and change specific behaviors within cancer cells, like stopping their growth, killing cancer cells or blocking chemical signals within the cells. Because targeted therapy attacks cancer cells, it does less damage to normal, healthy cells than chemotherapy. It’s often used with other treatments for the best results.

This relatively new treatment, sometimes called biotherapy, uses drugs that kick-start your body’s natural immune response to cancer. There are different types of immunotherapy treatments, some that give your immune system an overall boost and some that help your immune system specifically target cancer cells. It’s often used alongside other treatments.

Hormones in the bloodstream, like estrogen, can affect some types of breast cancer. Hormone therapy is a type of treatment that stops hormones from interacting with cancer cells, which can slow or stop the growth of cancer. Hormone therapy is often used after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer returning and can be used alongside other treatment options.

During your cancer treatment, we help make sure that you and your family feel as comfortable and supported as possible. To do this, we offer a wide-range of services as part of personalized treatment plans, including integrative therapies, palliative care, nutrition services, genetic counseling, cancer rehabilitation and more.