Breast Cancer Specialist

Golden Gate Cancer Center

David G. Kornguth, M.D.

Radiation Oncologist & A Group Medical Practice located in SoMa (South of Market), San Francisco, CA

Finding a lump in your breast is an experience all women dread, but with expert care, you raise your chances of beating breast cancer. David Kornguth, MD, of Golden Gate Cancer Center in the SoMa (South of Market) neighborhood of San Francisco, California, uses advanced radiation therapy technologies like stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to achieve superior results when targeting breast cancer. Dr. Kornguth’s personalized approach, caring demeanor, and respect for your privacy make his practice exceptional. Call the practice’s Mission District office today to find out more, or fill in the online form to schedule a consultation.

415-685-0605

Breast Cancer Q&A

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is a tumor that develops when individual cells mutate in your breast tissue. The cancerous cells multiply and don't die, creating a mass that can prove fatal without treatment. Types of breast cancer include:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
Invasive lobular carcinoma
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
Angiosarcoma
Inflammatory breast cancer
Paget's disease of the breast

Breast cancer is a disease that mostly affects women, but in rare cases, men can develop this form of cancer too. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is currently around 90%, but that means thousands of women continue to die of breast cancer every year across the United States.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

The breast cancer symptom you're most likely to notice is a lump in your breast. For this reason, all women need to examine their breasts regularly, so they pick up any changes at the earliest opportunity.

As well as lumps, breast cancer might cause changes to the breast's size, shape, or appearance, such as:

Peeling
Scaling
Crusting
Flaking
Dimpling
Redness
Pitting
A newly inverted nipple

Although it's alarming finding a lump in your breast, it doesn't necessarily mean you have cancer. The lump could be a cyst, for example — a fluid-filled sac that’s completely curable. However, you should always consult your doctor if you see any changes or feel differences in your breasts.

How is breast cancer treated?

Dr. Kornguth's aim when providing breast cancer care is to guide your overall health, not simply treat your condition. He focuses on the importance of nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices as part of a comprehensive, personally tailored treatment program.

Breast cancer could involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery. Large tumors might require a course of chemotherapy prior to having surgery to help reduce the size of the tumor.

Radiation therapy can be an effective way of helping you avoid surgery and the possible removal of your breast (mastectomy).

How is radiation therapy used for breast cancer?

Dr. Kornguth uses advanced radiation therapy technologies to treat breast cancer, including:

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT)

3D CRT and similar techniques form part of an approach to breast cancer treatment known as accelerated partial breast irradiation therapy (APBI).

Using APBI, Dr. Kornguth can target breast cancer tumors with optimal precision. Using a targeted dose of radiation and reducing your exposure time ensures you suffer as little trauma to the healthy breast tissue as possible.

APBI is also an effective treatment that helps prevent breast cancer from returning if you do undergo surgery.

Find out more about breast cancer by calling Golden Gate Cancer Center today or book an appointment online.