Breast Cancer

A woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer is one in nine. At Exeter Hospital, our affiliated surgeons are committed to the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Treatment strategies are individually tailored after consultation with pathologists, radiation oncologists, primary care physicians and medical oncologists at our weekly tumor conference.

Exeter Hospital also offers a Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic. This clinic allows women with a breast cancer diagnosis to meet with a team of specialists in one session and receive a comprehensive treatment plan.

Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic

The Center for Cancer Care offers a multidisciplinary breast clinic for women with a breast cancer diagnosis. The goal of the program is to coordinate each patient's care by engaging in timely collaborative treatment planning, and to pay special attention to the psychosocial as well as the clinical needs of the patient.

A team of medical and radiation oncologists, surgeons, primary care physicians, radiologists, pathologists, clinical nurse specialists and social workers meet with each patient to review their case. This team then discusses the details and treatment options, and collaboratively renders an opinion for the best course of treatment.

Normally, the process of meeting individually with each medical specialist potentially takes three to four weeks to complete. Through the multidisciplinary breast clinic, the patient's customized plan of care is rendered in one afternoon, which means a reduction of inconvenience and anxiety for both the patient and her family.

For more information about the multidisciplinary breast clinic, call the Center for Cancer Care at 1-866-9-EXETER (regional toll free line-NH, ME, VT, MA).

High Risk Breast Health Program and the Risk Factors

Several surgical procedures are available:

Partial Breast Irradiation - This technique in conjunction with Radiation Oncology's Electronic Brachytherapy utilizes a balloon catheter for the delivery of localized breast irradiation.

Breast Conservation Lumpectomy - Lumpectomy removes only the breast lump and a margin of healthy tissue around the tumor. This is usually done in conjuntion with radiation therapy.

Mastectomy - This procedure involves the removal of the entire breast. Depending on the type of mastectomy (simple, total, radical), lymph nodes and underlying muscle tissue may or may not be removed.

Sentinel Node Biopsy - The removal of lymph nodes that drain lymphatic fluid away from the breast and are the most likely candidates for harboring cancerous cells that have spread from the breast cancer.

Reconstructive Surgery - Options range from reconstruction with breast implants to reconstruction with muscle transfers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers a 2004 Breast Implant Consumer Handbook to the public. Click here to access this resource for the latest information available on breast implants.

Meet our affiliated breast surgeons:

Roderick McKee, MD

Diane Palladino, MD

Christopher Roseberry, MD

Jay Swett, MD

Breast Reconstructive Surgery:

Kimberly Marble, MD

In the News:

Walk For Breast Cancer Research and Prevention (Healthy Perspective Magazine, Fall 2010)

Early Detection of Breast Cancer Can Save Lives (Healthy Perspective Magazine, Fall 2010)

New Low Dose Breast Radiation Therapy (WMUR New Hampshire, February 11, 2010)

Leading Edge Treatment for Early Stage Breast Cancer(Healthy Perspectives Magazine, Spring Summer 2009)