Breast Cancer Treatments

Treatments

Radiation Oncology

Hypofractionated (shorter courses) of external beam radiation therapy are more convenient and equally effective for many women with early stage breast cancer. Three-week courses of radiotherapy rather than the traditional six to seven weeks of treatment are routinely offered to eligible patients at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.

The Radiation Oncology team at MUSC Health has integrated a new radiotherapy technique specifically for patients with left-sided breast cancer where radiation delivered to the heart is a major concern. The Deep Inspiration Breath Hold technique requires patients to hold their breath as the chest is expanded and the heart is pushed down and away from your chest wall. This process helps to minimize the dose of radiation to your lungs and heart during your daily treatment. Deep Inspiration Breath Hold is the most efficient way to minimize this risk.
Surgery
Clinical Trials
Our clinical trials for breast cancer offer patients access to cutting-edge therapies that may not be available anywhere else.

Breast Reconstruction

Today, women who lose one or both breasts to cancer and mastectomy can benefit from state-of-the-art opportunities in reconstruction. At MUSC Health, we believe each woman should have access to the full range of options including those for implant reconstruction as well as revolutionary techniques for natural tissue reconstruction, which our doctors have helped to advance.

We can help you determine what will work best for you and also help with choices on other issues, for example, whether to delay reconstruction or have it done at the time of mastectomy. We want you to explore and understand all the possibilities so that you will be fully satisfied with the results of your reconstruction.

MUSC Health offers numerous breast reconstruction procedure options. Your doctor can work with you to better determine which procedure is right for you based on your needs.
Patient Resources

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center offers patients assistance in dealing with the financial, physical & emotional aspects of battling cancer.