Breast cancer

While the most common early symptoms of breast cancer are new lumps or masses in your breast, there are not always signs. Other symptoms of breast cancer may include:

• Change in breast or nipple appearance, including size, dimpling, swelling, shrinking, asymmetry or inverted nipples
• Change in how the breast or nipple feels, including tenderness, a lump in the breast or in the armpit or a change in skin texture
• Pain in the breast or nipple
• Spontaneous or bloody nipple discharge
• Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone

Mammograms are the most commonly used screening for signs of breast cancer, and we recommend you talk to a doctor about your family's history of breast cancer once you turn 25. In these appointments, your doctor will assess if you pose an average, intermediate or high risk, and may give you a referral to a high-risk breast clinic or genetics counselor.

At age 40, talk with your primary care doctor about establishing a regular screening mammogram plan. Together, you and your provider can develop a plan based on your individual risk factors, personal preferences and your provider’s recommendation.

One of the best ways to stay proactive about your breast health is to get routine mammograms. Our breast imaging locations are accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and the American College of Radiology (ACR).

We offer 3D mammography, which provides detailed breast images and can help doctors detect cancer earlier. You can schedule a mammogram at one of the following facilities:

• St. David's Medical Center
• Call (866) 717-2551 or click to schedule an appointment.
• St. David's North Austin Medical Center
• Call (512) 220-0680 or click to schedule an appointment.
• St. David's South Austin Medical Center
• Call (512) 220-0676 or click to schedule an appointment.
• St. David's Round Rock Medical Center
• Call (737) 272-0548 or click to schedule an appointment.
• St. David's Georgetown Hospital
• Call (512) 942-4406.

Solis Mammography

We partner with Solis Mammography to provide specialized breast screening in a warm, welcoming environment. Solis Mammography is the on-site provider of our comprehensive breast imaging services at St. David’s Medical Center.

Solis Mammography offers screening and diagnostic breast imaging to help you maintain your breast health and peace of mind.

St. David's Medical Center

Plaza St. David’s Professional Building
1015 E. 32nd St., third floor, Suite 308
Austin, TX 78705

Phone: (833) 941-0329
Office hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday

Parking and directions:
Park in Garage 3, located at the corner of 32nd Street and I-35. We will validate your parking.

Take the garage elevator to Building Level 1. Exit the elevator, turn right and go to the first set of elevators. Take the elevator to the third floor. We are in Suite 308, on the right.

St. David's North Austin Medical Center

12221 Renfert Way, Suite 290
Austin, TX 78758

Phone: (512) 220-0680
Office hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday

Parking and directions:
The office building is located between Cedar Bend Drive and Park Bend Drive. Park in the surface lot in front of the medical office building. Parking is free.

We are in Suite 290, on the right when you exit the elevator.

St. David's South Austin Medical Center

4310 James Casey St., Building 2
Austin, TX 78745

Phone: (512) 220-0676
Office hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday

Parking and directions:
Park in the surface-level parking lot.

St. David's Round Rock Medical Center

2410 Round Rock Ave., Suite 175
Round Rock, TX 78681

Phone: (737) 272-0548
Office hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday

Parking and directions:
Our breast imaging center is located next to the main entrance of St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center in Suite 175. Enter through the west entrance of Medical Office Building 1.

Another form of available screening we offer is breast biopsies.

A biopsy is a removal of a lump or tissue that is tested to identify if you have breast cancer and, if so, what type. The tissue that was removed may be tested for:

• HER-2 status — Sometimes referred to as ErbB2, HER-2 is a gene that helps control how cells grow, divide and repair themselves. About one in four breast cancers have too many copies of the HER-2 gene. These cancers tend to grow quickly. Anti-HER-2 antibody therapy is often effective against them.
• Hormone receptors — A hormone receptor is a cell protein that binds to a hormone, such as estrogen and progesterone, which can help certain cancer cells grow. If your breast cancer cells have too many hormone receptors for estrogen or progesterone, we can treat those cells with medicine that reduces or blocks estrogen in your body.

Depending on the results of a mammogram or breast biopsy, your oncologist may recommend imaging tests, which can detect signs of breast cancer and diagnose the type and extent. These tests include:

• Breast ultrasound — This test uses sound waves to capture detailed pictures of the inside of your breast tissue. It is often used to precisely position biopsy needles and determine if abnormalities found on a mammogram are solid or fluid-filled.
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan — This technique uses a series of X-rays to capture detailed images of your body, so your provider can best see where your breast cancer is located.
• Ductoscopy — This minimally invasive procedure involves inserting a very small video scope into a milk duct, so doctors can examine the affected duct and find areas to biopsy. It’s typically used to evaluate women with abnormal nipple discharge.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan — An MRI takes detailed pictures of your internal structures using magnetic and radio waves. This scan may be used in conjunction with mammography for improved breast cancer detection, and is regularly used to both determine the extent of the disease and monitor breast cancer therapy progress.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan — This test measures your body's metabolic activity to show the function of organs and tissues. It can be particularly helpful in defining areas where breast cancers have metastasized, or spread to other areas.
• Tomosynthesis — This type of advanced three-dimensional mammogram takes multiple images of the breast, and is able to detect breast cancer in dense breast tissue.

We may also recommend further evaluation of your family history to assess your genetic risk of breast cancer and genetic mutations.

Breast cancer types can be described in many ways, including by where they occur and whether they are invasive. Most breast cancers start in either the milk lobules or the milk ducts. Cancers are considered invasive when they grow beyond where they started into other parts of the breast tissue.

The four main types of breast cancer are:

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
• Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)
• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
• Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)

The most common breast cancer types in women and men are invasive ductal carcinomas and invasive lobular carcinomas.

We offer a variety of treatments and services to diagnose and treat breast conditions. These include:

• Breast augmentation surgery
• Fine needle biopsy
• Lumpectomy
• Mammography
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy

There are also preventive treatment options we offer, such as chemoprevention.