Breast Cancer

Expertise & Collaborative Care

Our Shaw Cancer Center physicians are highly skilled across all specialties relevant to the care for our breast cancer patients. With the goal to provide individualized, comprehensive care to each patient, our surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and radiologists meet weekly for a multidisciplinary discussion known as “Tumor Board.” Tumor board is followed by “Breast Clinic” during which the patient consults with multiple physicians to formulate a cohesive treatment plan.

You’re not alone in this journey, Lindy Owens, RN, and Elle Applegate, RN, our breast navigators will assist you by helping navigate from diagnosis through treatment. They will assist you with scheduling doctor appointments, coordinating imaging with radiology, scheduling surgery, and communicating all your needs to your care team.

Breast Surgery
Shaw Cancer Center collaborates with a team of specialized breast surgeons including Dr. Stephanie Miller and Dr. Jason Martin.

Medical Oncology
Dr. Alec Urquhart, Dr. Alex Menter, and Dr. Erin Schwab direct care for breast patients who require or would benefit from systemic therapies like chemotherapy, immunotherapy or anti-hormonal therapy. Many breast cancers will express estrogen and/or progesterone receptors. This is one of the ways these breast cancer cells do the things they are not supposed to do. Through stimulation of these cells from the production of normal female hormones, these cells multiply, grow, and potentially go places they don’t belong. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone during the normal cycle in menstruating women. After menopause the ovaries no longer produce estrogen or progesterone, but these hormones can be made from the normal conversion of other homones by an enzyme found in normal tissues. Anti-hormonal treatment utilizes oral or injected medications that block this pathway, either by blocking the production of estrogen or blocking the signaling through the estrogen receptor. These anti-hormonal therapy can be very effective, used to prevent cancers from coming back and improving cure rates after surgery, as well as to treat metastatic recurrent breast cancer.

Radiation Oncology
Under the leadership of Dr. Patricia Hardenbergh, The Shaw Cancer Center utilizes state of the art technology to administer radiation therapy that targets and kills cancer. Each treatment plan is customized specifically for the patient’s anatomy. Types of radiation therapy we use to treat breast cancer include accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and whole breast radiation with a True Beam linear accelerator.

A Full Range of Treatments to Consider.

Shaw Cancer Center providers will work with you to review all of your treatment options and help guide you in choosing the treatment, or combination of treatments, that best suits your needs and goals. The range of treatments offered for breast cancer, depending on appropriateness for each patient, includes surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, endocrine (hormonal) therapy, and radiation therapy.

Detecting cancer.
Shaw Cancer Center utilizes mammograms, breast ultrasound and breast MRI to detect breast cancer. PET/CT can also be utilized in certain cases to determine if cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

Personalizing treatment based on individual risk.
Our team uses predictive biomarkers and genetic and biologic characteristics of an individual patient to better personalize and optimize treatment for people with cancer.

Making surgery less invasive and more effective.
Vail Health & Shaw Cancer Center surgeons have been performing and perfecting breast surgery for decades. Your team of physicians, as well as our genetic counselor, work together to help determine what type of surgery is recommended, either breast conservation therapy (lumpectomy) or a mastectomy.

Precisely planning radiation to reduce side effects.
Shaw Cancer Center’s radiation oncologist is an expert in planning radiation treatment that targets breast cancer and spares normal healthy tissue. We offer the latest in breast cancer radiation options.

Support & Services During Your Journey

We offer a network of support to help you with your physical, mental and spiritual needs in an effort to enhancing your well-being throughout every step of your treatment and recovery.

Fit for Survival Program
- Led by a team of exercise physiologists, this program facilitates strength training and aerobic exercise to, not only increase overall well-being, but to help mitigate adverse effects associated with cancer treatment.
Physical Therapy
- Our relationship with Howard Head Sports Medicine allows us to provide various muscle strengthening to aid in your recovery.
Jack’s Place
- A12 bedroom caring house for on site lodging accommodations for patients and their caregiver/significant other during their cancer treatment.
Diet and Nutrition
- Our nutritionist will help with a plan tailored to your recovery goals.
Psychosocial Support Services
- We offer a number of psychosocial services led by skilled cancer counselors and social workers Erin Perjeda, Kristi Grems and Sarah Roberts.
Integrative Health Services
- Our integrative services are designed to help patients cope with the cancer experience and improve their overall sense of well-being. We offer massage, reiki and acupuncture.
Genetic Counseling
- Our genetic counselor can help guide patients through the process of better understanding their cancer’s impact on their current treatment, future cancer screening, and family.