Breast Cancer
About Breast Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, Louisiana has one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the nation. We do not have a higher incidence of most cancers; instead, we have higher death rates. This is due to lack of access to care, delayed diagnosis and treatment, limited educational awareness and low utilization of preventative services. Screening tests can help find cancer at an early stage, before symptoms appear. The earlier abnormal tissue or cancer is discovered, the more options there are for successful treatment. Learn more about breast cancer below.
Locations Just for Women
BREAST & GYN CANCER PAVILION
At the Breast & GYN Cancer Pavilion, a unique facility dedicated solely to treating women with breast and gynecologic cancer, Mary Bird Perkins – Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center and Woman’s Hospital are working side-by-side. With the most experienced doctors and teams, surgical procedures, breakthrough treatments and national clinical trials, we provide everything needed for your care and life beyond your diagnosis.
WOMEN’S IMAGING AND BREAST CENTER
Women in the Bayou Region have access to exceptional and compassionate care at TGMC’s Women’s Imaging and Breast Center, where our focus is on the comfort and overall wellness of the patient. The center offers bone densitometry scans, digital mammography, core breast biopsies, Breast Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI), breast needle localizations, ultrasound and an array of mammography and other breast imaging techniques.
Advanced Treatment
Gamma Knife Icon (GKI) is an innovative, noninvasive radiosurgery technology used for treating metastatic breast cancer when tumors have spread to the brain. The first of its kind in the Gulf South, GKI treats only the parts of the brain that need it, sparing healthy tissue and enhancing quality of life. There are no incisions with this treatment and, in most cases, little to no side effects. To learn more about the Gamma Knife Icon, click here.
Patient Stories
RUTH PORTILLO, BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR
“When you don’t speak English, you’re always fearful language will be a barrier to your care but that was not the case,” said Ruth. “Now, I tell people to not be afraid and take advantage of the Cancer Center’s free screening services; they will be with you every step of the way. They saved my life.”
Screenings
WHEN TO GET SCREENED FOR BREAST CANCER
Women should get a clinical breast exam at least every three years, starting in their 20s, and get an annual exam and mammogram starting at 40. Breast self-exam is an option beginning at age 20. See a doctor about any breast changes.
RISK FACTORS
Some risk factors for breast cancer are not preventable, such as getting older, personal or family history of breast cancer or some non-cancerous breast diseases, while some risk factors can be associated with lifestyle choices. Not being physically active, being overweight or obese after menopause or drinking alcohol can increase your risk. If you have questions about potential risk factors in your life, talk with your doctor.
SYMPTOMS
Possible symptoms of breast cancer may include swelling of all or part of the breast, breast or nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, or a lump in the underarm area. Skin irritation or dimpling, redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin, or nipple discharge other than breast milk are other possible signs. Please consult with your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
Source: breastcancer.org
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that involve human beings in order to test new ways to prevent, detect, diagnose or treat diseases. A drug must be part of a clinical trial before the FDA will approve it to be put on the market. Oncology clinical trials are conducted in order to test new drugs or a new combination of drug treatments, new surgery and radiation therapies and new medical devices.
Every cancer center patient is evaluated for participation in a clinical trial. Those who meet the criteria to participate in clinical research receive a standard of care treatment, but with the added benefit of a trial that may enhance their outcomes.
If interested in volunteering to participate in a clinical research trial, or if you have concerns about the conduct of clinical research, please contact the Clinical Research office at (225) 215-1353, or by email at clinicalresearch@marybird.com.
Trial Number: AFT-25 COMET
Title: Comparing an Operation to Monitoring, With or Without Endocrine Therapy (COMET) For Low Risk DCIS: A Phase III Prospective Randomized Trial
Purpose: This study looks at the risks and benefits of active monitoring (AM) compared to surgery in the setting of a pragmatic prospective randomized trial for low risk DCIS.
Physicians: Dr. Mindy Bowie
Offered in: Baton Rouge
Trial Number: Alliance A011202
Title: A Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing Axillary Lymph Node Dissection to Axillary Radiation in Breast Cancer Patients (cT1-3 N1) Who Have Positive Sentinel Lymph Node Disease after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Purpose: This randomized phase III trial studies lymph node dissection and radiation therapy to see how well it works compared to radiation therapy alone in treating patients with breast cancer previously treated with chemotherapy and surgery.
Physicians: Dr. Charles Bowie
Offered in: Baton Rouge
Trial Number: Alliance A221505
Title: Phase III Randomized Trial of Hypofractionated Post Mastectomy Radiation with Breast Reconstruction
Purpose: This randomized phase III trial studies how well hypofractionated radiation therapy works in preventing recurrence in patients with stage IIa-IIIa cancer who have undergone mastectomy. Hypofractionated radiation therapy delivers higher doses of radiation therapy over a shorter period of time and may kill more tumor cells that remain after surgery and have fewer side effects.
Physicians: Drs. Katherine Castle, Robert Fields, Maurice King, Jingya Wang, and Charles Wood; Andrew Elson; Jeffrey Long.
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: Alliance A211601
Title: Evaluation of Mammographic Breast Density Effect of Aspirin: A Companion Study of Alliance Study A011502
Purpose: This phase III trial evaluates mammographic breast density in participants with hormone receptor-negative breast cancer enrolled on study A011502. High breast density has been shown to be a strong risk factor for developing breast cancer and decreasing breast density may decrease the risk for breast cancer.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, Vince Cataldo, David Hanson, Kellie Schmeeckle, Daniel LaVie, Sobia Ozair, Joseph Shows, Derrick Spell, Siva Yadlapati, Lauren Zatarain, James Carinder, Jack Saux, Robert Fields, Katherine Castle, Maurice King, Charles Wood, Jingya Wang, Jeffery Long, Andrew Elson, Robert Gamble and Donald Hill
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: EA1151
Title: Digital Tomosynthesis Mammography and Digital Mammography in Screening Patients for Breast Cancer
Purpose: This randomized phase III trial studies digital tomosynthesis mammography and digital mammography in screening patients for breast cancer. Screening for breast cancer with tomosynthesis mammography may be superior to digital mammography for breast cancer screening and may help reduce the need for additional imaging or treatment.
Physicians: Dr. James Ruiz
Offered in: Baton Rouge (Woman’s Hospital)
Trial Number: ECOG EAZ171
Title: Prospective Validation Trial of Taxane Therapy (Docetaxel or Weekly Paclitaxel) and Risk of Chemotherapy – Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in African American Women
Purpose: This phase II trial studies how well Docetaxel or Paclitaxel work in reducing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in African American patients with stages I-III breast cancer.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, Vince Cataldo, David Hanson, Kellie Schmeeckle, Daniel LaVie, Sobia Ozair, Joseph Shows, Derrick Spell, Siva Yadlapati, Lauren Zatarain, James Carinder, Jack Saux, Robert Gamble and Donald Hill
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: SWOG S1501
Title:Prospective Evaluation of Carvedilol in Prevention of Cardiac Toxicity in Patients with Metastatic HER-2+ Breast Cancer, Phase III
Purpose: This phase III trial studies how well Carvedilol works in preventing cardiac toxicity in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body.
Physicians:Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, Vince Cataldo, David Hanson, Kellie Schmeeckle, Daniel LaVie, Sobia Ozair, Joseph Shows, Derrick Spell, Siva Yadlapati, and Lauren Zatarain
Offered in: Baton Rouge
Trial Number: WF-97116
Title: A Phase 3 Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial of Donepezil in Chemotherapy Exposed Breast Cancer Survivors with Cognitive Impairment
Purpose: This study is to compare the safety and effects of Donepezil (Aricept) or if it decreases memory loss after receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, Vince Cataldo, David Hanson, Daniel LaVie, Sobia Ozair, Kellie Schmeeckle, Joseph Shows, Derrick Spell, Siva Yadlapati, Lauren Zatarain; James Carinder, Jack Saux; and Donald Hill.
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: NRG BR-003
Title: A Randomized Phase III Trial of Adjuvant Therapy Comparing Doxorubicin Plus Cyclophosphamide Followed by Weekly Paclitaxel with or Without Carboplatin for Node-Positive or High-Risk Node-Negative Triple-Negative Invasive Breast Cancer
Purpose: This randomized phase III trial studies how well doxorubicin hydrochloride and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel with or without carboplatin work in treating patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin hydrochloride, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. It is not yet known whether doxorubicin hydrochloride and cyclophosphamide is more effective when followed by paclitaxel alone or paclitaxel and carboplatin in treating triple-negative breast cancer.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, Vince Cataldo, David Hanson, Daniel LaVie, Sobia Ozair, Kellie Schmeeckle, Joseph Shows, Derrick Spell, Siva Yadlapati Lauren Zatarain, Naveed Khan, James Carinder and Jack Saux.
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: NSABP B-51
Title: A Randomized Phase III Clinical Trial Evaluating Post-Mastectomy Chestwall and Regional Nodal XRT and Post-Lumpectomy Regional Nodal XRT in Patients with Positive Axillary Nodes Before Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Who Convert to Pathologically Negative Axillary Nodes After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Purpose: This randomized phase III trial studies standard or comprehensive radiation therapy in treating patients with early-stage breast cancer who have undergone surgery. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x rays to kill tumor cells. It is not yet known whether comprehensive radiation therapy is more effective than standard radiation therapy in treating patients with breast cancer.
Physicians: Katherine Castle, Robert Fields, Maurice King, Jingya Wang and Charles Wood; Andrew Elson; Jeffrey Long.
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Gonzales, Hammond and Houma
Trial Number: A011401
Title: Randomized Phase III Trial Evaluating the Role of Weight Loss in Adjuvant Treatment of Overweight and Obese Women with Early Breast Cancer (BWEL Study)
Purpose: This randomized phase III trial studies whether weight loss in overweight and obese women may prevent breast cancer from coming back (recurrence). Previous studies have found that women who are overweight or obese when their breast cancer is found (diagnosed) have a greater risk of their breast cancer recurring, as compared to women who were thinner when their cancer was diagnosed. This study aims to test whether overweight or obese women who take part in a weight loss program after being diagnosed with breast cancer have a lower rate of cancer recurrence as compared to women who do not take part in the weight loss program. This study will help to show whether weight loss programs should be a part of breast cancer treatment.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, Vince Cataldo, Robert Fields, David Hanson, Maurice King, Daniel LaVie, Sobia Ozair, Kellie Schmeeckle, Joseph Shows, Derrick Spell, Jingya Wang, Charles Wood, Siva Yadlapati, Lauren Zatarain; James Carinder, Andrew Elson, Jack Saux, Donald Hill, and Jeffrey Long.
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: EA1131
Title: A Randomized Phase III Post-Operative Trial of Platinum Based Chemotherapy Vs. Observation in Patients with Residual Triple-Negative Basal-Like Breast Cancer Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Purpose: This randomized phase III trial studies how well cisplatin or carboplatin (platinum based chemotherapy) works compared to capecitabine in treating patients with remaining (residual) basal-like triple-negative breast cancer following chemotherapy after surgery (neoadjuvant). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, carboplatin and capecitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. It is not yet known whether cisplatin or carboplatin is more effective than capecitabine in treating patients with residual triple negative basal-like breast cancer.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, Vince Cataldo, David Hanson, Daniel LaVie, Sobia Ozair, Kellie Schmeeckle, Joseph Shows, Derrick Spell, Siva Yadlapati, Lauren Zatarain; James Carinder, Jack Saux and Donald Hill.
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: SWOG 1418
Title: A Randomized, Phase III Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of MK-3475 (Pembrolizumab) as Adjuvant Therapy for Triple Receptor- Negative Breast Cancer with >/= 1 CM Residual Invasive Cancer or Positive Lymph Nodes (ypN+) after Neodajuvant Chemotherapy
Purpose: The primary objective is to compare invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have either >1 cm residual invasive breast cancer and/or positive lymph nodes (>ypN+) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy randomized to receive 1 year of MK-3475 (pembrolizumab) adjuvant therapy compared to no MK-3475 (pembrolizumab), in both the entire study population and also in the PD-L1 positive subset.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, David Hanson, Daniel LaVie, Sobia Ozair, Kellie Schmeeckle, Derrick Spell, James Carinder, Jack Saux, Vince Cataldo, Joseph Shows, Siva Yadlapati, Lauren Zatarain, and Donald Hill
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: NRG BR004
Title: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Phase III Trial of Paclitaxel/ Trastuzumab/ Pertuzumab with Atezolizumab or Placebo in First-Line HER2-Positice Metastatic Breast Cancer
Purpose: This randomized phase III trial studies how well Paclitaxel, Trastuzumab, and Pertuzumab with or without Atezolizumab works in treating patients with breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, David Hanson, Jeanette Kovtun, Daniel LaVie, Kellie Schmeeckle, Derrick Spell, James Carinder, Jack Saux, Vince Cataldo, Sobia Ozair, Joseph Shows, Siva Yadlapati, and Lauren Zatarain
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Trial Number: URCC-18007
Title: Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial of Bupropion for Cancer Related Fatigue
Purpose: This trial studies how effective Bupropion is in reducing breast cancer related fatigue.
Physicians: Drs. Bryan Bienvenu, Vince Cataldo, David Hanson, Kellie Schmeeckle, Daniel LaVie, Joseph Shows, Derrick Spell, Siva Yadlapati, Lauren Zatarain, James Carinder, Jack Saux, and Donald Hill
Offered in: Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma
Geaux Pink
If you’re interested in joining the fight against cancer, consider Geaux-ing Pink this October. Geaux Pink is a signature awareness and fundraising event that allows the Cancer Center to partner with individuals, schools, businesses and sports teams to raise funds and awareness around breast cancer. Signing up is easy! Click here to learn how!
Survivedat
Although increasing age is a common risk factor for various types of cancer, including breast, young women can still develop breast cancer. Often times, young breast cancer survivors have unique needs compared to older women with breast cancer. SurviveDat is a resource for young breast cancer patients and caregivers.
Additional Support
- American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society website contains information on many aspects of cancer care geared toward patients and caregivers. - National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute is a federal program that is part of the National Institutes of Health. It has resources and information for patients and caregivers which is based on scientific research. - Centers for Disease and Prevention
The Centers for Disease and Prevention website provides resources for breast cancer patients. - SurviveDat
SurviveDat is a resource for young breast cancer patients and caregivers.
