Fortunately, with improvements in breast cancer knowledge and treatments through the results of many clinical trials, a team of specialists is needed for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer treatments are individualized for each woman’s breast cancer; there is no one treatment for all breast cancers any more.
Every week, patients who have had their breast cancer surgical treatment will have their breast imaging and pathology slides reviewed and correlated at the Multidisciplinary Conference. This is a team of clinical breast radiologists, breast surgeons, medical and radiological oncologists, pathologists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, and lymphedema specialists.
This Multispecialty Cancer team reviews pathology slides with the pathologist to make sure surgical margins are adequate. The team develops an individualized plan of care for each woman which the breast surgeon explains to her during their post-surgical office consultation. This approach eliminates visits to different specialists’ offices, offers a comprehensive approach to treatment at one location and a shortened time from diagnosis to recovery. The breast care is individualized to the woman’s need for her particular breast cancer.
Additionally, at every Multispecialty Conference, every newly diagnosed breast cancer is discussed. All the various breast imaging studies of that woman and her pathology slides are reviewed. This allows the team to discuss beforehand the surgical options that would be available for the woman. This is very helpful for the breast surgeon to be aware of the uniqueness of each woman’s case before meeting with her.
At most centers, this requires multiple doctors’ visits over an extended period of time. At Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center, our team of breast specialists has a weekly multidisciplinary meeting to discuss each patient’s imaging findings, test results, and pathology results. The team develops an individualized plan of care for each woman, which the breast surgeon explains to her during their office consultation. This approach eliminates visits to different specialists’ offices, offers a comprehensive approach to treatment at one location to expedite the time from initial diagnosis to definitive treatment and recovery.