Breast Disease
Breast Disease Specialist
Breast cancer isn’t the only form of breast disease, but it’s the one that springs to mind if you find a lump in your breast. Most lumps aren’t cancerous, but either way, experienced surgeon Jacob Rinker, MD, FACS, and his team at Wyoming Medical Associates can help. They provide expert surgery for a range of breast diseases, including cancer, at their locations in Gillette and Casper, Wyoming. Call the office nearest you for more information or book an appointment online today.
Breast Disease Q & A
What kinds of breast disease are there?
Of all the different types of breast disease, the one that’s likely to concern you most is breast cancer. However, there are many other conditions that can affect your breasts. Some of the more common breast diseases and disorders include:
Fibrocystic breasts
Most breast lumps are fibrocystic. They tend to develop just before menstruation and can be painful. The lumps are movable and not cancerous.
Fibroadenomas
A fibroadenoma is a benign (noncancerous) lump consisting of fibrous connective tissues and glandular material.
Fat necrosis
Fat necrosis occurs when fatty breast tissues break down after an injury or trauma, forming firm, round lumps.
Sclerosing adenosis
This is a benign breast disease where tissue overgrowth occurs in the lobules — the milk-producing part of your breast. It can lead to calcifications, which are deposits of calcium in the tissues. Calcification can also be due to injury, inflammation, and aging arteries.
Men can also suffer from breast disease, particularly gynecomastia, where an increase in breast gland tissue occurs due to a hormonal imbalance.
How is breast disease diagnosed?
Cancerous and noncancerous breast diseases often share similar symptoms. Both malignant and benign breast disease can cause nipple discharge, and many different types of lumps can appear in your breasts.
To determine which type of breast disease you have, you need to undergo some diagnostic tests, such as:
- Nipple smear
- Ductogram
- Mammogram
- Ultrasound
- MRI
You might require a needle biopsy to extract fluid from a breast lump, or a biopsy to take a sample of tissue for testing.
How is breast disease treated?
Treatment for your breast disease depends on the cause of your condition. Infections might simply need a course of antibiotics, while some breast diseases could require surgery.
The Wyoming Medical Associates team specializes in treating breast disease using surgical methods. They can perform biopsies where appropriate or completely remove lumps caused by conditions like fat necrosis and fibroadenomas.
Breast cancer treatment
The team also performs expert surgery for breast cancer, working in cooperation with your oncology team.
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are typically necessary for treating breast cancer. Surgery might come first, or you might need chemotherapy before surgery to shrink a large tumor.
Wherever possible, the Wyoming Medical Associates team preserves your breast by performing a lumpectomy that just removes the tumor. In some cases, a mastectomy is necessary to remove the entire breast.
If you’ve found a lump on your breast or are experiencing any worrying symptoms of breast disease, call Wyoming Medical Associates or book an appointment online today.