Home» Posts tagged "Mammography"

How to Read Your Breast MRI Report

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - June 5, 2017 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Treatment, Cancer Survival

An MRI of the breast is perhaps the best method we have to evaluate your breasts for the presence of a cancer. However, breast MRIs are also the most expensive method to evaluate the breast. And therefore they are not used as a screening tool. Breast MRIs are used to either add additional information to mammography when a mammogram is unclear. A mammogram may be unclear if the mammogram is dense, that is if the report of your mammogram describes heterogeneously dense breast or extremely dense breast. Likewise, if there is an abnormality on the mammogram it may need further evaluation with a breast MRI.

Vaginal Dryness After Breast Cancer Can Be Treated

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - December 20, 2016 - Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Surgery, Breast Cancer Treatment, Knoxville Community, Patient Stories

Fighting breast cancer was hard. It was also unfair. Linda was only 53, she ran marathons, ate lean meats, enjoyed her vegetables and took a walk every night with her husband. So it was profoundly unfair when a spot was found on her annual screening mammogram. She had a core needle biopsy, which demonstrated a breast cancer. Although the tumor was small, it was high grade. Linda chose to remove her breast and have a mastectomy. And then she took chemotherapy.

DCIS: Is it Cancer?

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - November 16, 2016 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Surgery, Breast Cancer Treatment, Knoxville Community, Patient Stories

Nicole and her girlfriends went for their annual mammogram. It was always more fun to do it in a group. Although they were all in their young 40s and the government is trying to tell them not to have a mammogram till they turn 50, they listened to the advice of their physicians and have been getting screening mammograms since they turned 40. Nicole’s mammogram had some microcalcifications, small pieces of calcium that are deposited from breast tissue. Most often, fibrocystic breast changes can cause calcium deposits, but on occasion, the calcium can be deposited by cancer. Nicole had a core needle biopsy and was told she had Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. Nicole had breast cancer, or so she thought. Her friend Amber, who knows everything, said that Nicole did not have cancer, that DCIS is a benign growth. Well, does Nicole have cancer? Is DCIS cancer?

Yes. DCIS is cancer. DCIS can recur after excision. DCIS can transform into a malignant tumor. Cure rates are as high as 98%, but 2% still succumb to the disease. Thus, DCIS is cancer, but benign cancer, as opposed to malignant cancer, which can spread throughout the body.

I’ve Beaten Breast Cancer. Now What?

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - October 24, 2016 - Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Treatment, Cancer Survival, Patient Stories

Josephine took her last dose of radiation therapy, got dressed, and walked down the hallway. The staff and other cancer survivors were waiting for her. She strode towards them, feeling like a Cheshire Cat with a smile a mile wide. She enjoyed every step. She enjoyed every congratulation. She enjoyed every good cheer. She grabbed the hammer and rung the bell. She was done. Her journey to beat breast cancer was complete.

Fighting breast cancer takes a lot of energy and determination. Many days just wipe you out and some days you just cry. At the end of the journey, the air is fresh, the sky is blue and the sun is brighter than it ever was.

My mom has breast cancer. Is it genetic? Will I get breast cancer?

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - September 12, 2016 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Treatment, Genetic testing, Knoxville Community, Patient Stories

Geraldine got her mammogram every year. Her first grandchild was born six years ago she wasn’t going to miss a second of her grandbaby’s life, although, the baby’s mom, Laura, had something to say about that. Geraldine just knew that her grandbaby was God’s gift to her or raising Laura, her daughter, right. And Geraldine wanted to be there for her daughter and to play with her grandbaby. So she got her mammogram every year.

To Screen or Not to Screen? That’s Not the Question.

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - August 18, 2016 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Treatment

Judy was nearing her 35th birthday. She was excited. Her husband was going to take her to Colorado for an exciting week of rock climbing, river rafting, and fishing. Then, she was sad. She wanted romantic walks in the foothills, expensive dinners with champagne and a night in the honeymoon suite. Men will just never learn.

Breast Cancer, Fertility, and the Young Woman

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - May 12, 2015 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Research

Breast Cancer, Fertility, and the Young Woman Shortly after they celebrated their third year anniversary, Mary Jane and her husband, Alan, made plans to start a family. After a year of trying to conceive, Mary Jane made an appointment with her gynecologist to make sure everything was in working order before she and her husband tried again the next month. During her examination, Mary Jane’s doctor noticed a mass in her breast and scheduled an ultrasound directed biopsy. The lab results revealed cancer. Mary Jane, only 34 years old, was shocked. How could this happen to her at such a young age? What would her husband think? Would they even be able to have children now? Mary Jane was heartbroken.

Mammograms Save Lives

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - December 5, 2014 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Surgery, Breast Cancer Treatment, Knoxville Community, Patient Stories

Margulies breast cancer awareness Jackie is a good mom. She takes care of her kids. She gets them to do their homework. She drives them to dance class, soccer games and piano lessons. She washes their clothes, packs their lunches and cooks their dinner. And she does the same for her husband. Jackie has little time for herself, especially when you take into account the volunteer time at her kids’ schools.

Mission Mammography

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - October 22, 2014 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Surgery, Breast Cancer Treatment, Genetic testing, Knoxville Community, Patient Stories

It’s October and time to be pink!

Julie and her friend Cindy were watching an NFL game and shared the excitement over the pink shoes, pink towels and pink ribbons that were all over the TV set and on the football field.

Can I Have Chemo-Lite?

Posted by Dr. Aaron G. Margulies - September 15, 2014 - Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Surgery, Breast Cancer Treatment, Patient Stories

Lilly had found the lump exactly one month ago. She called her doctor immediately who arranged for a mammogram.

That day at the Breast Center was a day Lilly will never forget.