Your Diagnosis & Medical Team

The medical team looking after your treatment consists of a team of specialists from the Departments of Surgery, Radiology, Pathology, Radiation Oncology, Genetics, and Plastic Surgery. You may also meet a dedicated Breast Cancer Nurse or patient navigator and a Social Worker. The team works together to provide you with the best treatment plan with the best possible outcomes.

Terms for you to understand:

Mastectomy: Surgical removal of the entire breast.

Lumpectomy: Surgical removal of the tumor and a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue, also known as breast-conserving surgery.

Reconstruction: Breast reconstruction surgery may follow mastectomy to rebuild the breast shape using implants or the patient’s tissue.

Adjuvant Therapy: Additional cancer treatment after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer coming back.

Neoadjuvant Therapy: Treatment before surgery to shrink tumors and make them easier to remove.

Pathology Report: A document containing detailed information about the characteristics of the removed tissue, including tumor size, grade, and the presence of hormone receptors.

Preoperative: Activities and interventions that occur before surgery, including assessments, preparations, and discussions with the surgical team.

Postoperative: Activities and care provided after surgery to promote healing.

Recovery Room: The area where patients are monitored and cared for immediately after surgery until they recover from anesthesia.

Biopsy: The removal of a small piece of tissue for examination under a microscope to diagnose or determine the nature of a disease.

Hormone Therapy: Treatment that blocks or interferes with hormones to slow or stop the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors.

Oncologist: A medical professional who specializes in the treatment of cancer, including surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists.

General Anesthesia: A state of controlled unconsciousness induced by medications during surgery.