The Breast Care Center of North Texas was designed by three female physicians with a collective history of over thirty years of service dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. While practicing, Doctors Mary Brian, Lea Krekow and Jancice Tomberlin all realized individually that a collaborative effort to better the patients' experience would be beneficial for everyone involved. Consequently, we are the only multi-specialty center in North Texas providing diagnosis, surgery, oncology, radiation and support in one location.

Description of Services

Convenient, in-office minimally invasive stereotactic and ultrasound directed breast biopsies
State-of-the-art surgery including lumpectomy, sentinel node biopsy, skin sparing mastectomy with reconstruction when necessary
In-office consultation for radiation therapy, including partial breast radiation utilizing mammosite catheter consultation and follow up with medical oncology
Free support services provided through the Chrysalis Foundation, including

N.E.A.T. Program® (Nutrition, Exercise and Attitudes for Tomorrow); with patient support sessions meeting twice monthly; and partner group meetings for spouses and significant others of breast cancer patients meeting once each month

Our Patient Emotional Care Program provides support from a licensed Ph.D. social worker for emotional issues arising as a result of having breast disease. Services include pre-surgery assessment; post-surgery assessment and after care counseling either individually or in group sessions.
Lymphedema Physical Therapy. Lymphedema, or swelling of the arm following surgery or radiation to the underarm area, occurs infrequently. Patients will be given instructions to decrease the likelihood of developing lymphedema. Fortunately, only a small percentage of patients experience chronic problems with lymphedema. We work with lymphedema-certified physical therapists to improve the circulation of lymphatic fluid and decrease the lymphedema.

Cancer Care Pathways

We offer a physician-led initiative to identify and document “best practices” information that will help ensure the consistent delivery of quality-driven, evidence-based treatment recommendations.

Current Breast Cancer Pathways include: Adjuvant Breast Cancer Pathway; Metastatic Breast Cancer Pathway; Breast Cancer Radiation Oncology Pathway.

Medical Professionals

Breast Cancer Information

Breast Cancer begins as one damaged or mutated cell. The cells double, (i.e. from one to two and two to four) at a rate ranging from 23 to 209 days. By the time a tumor is large enough to be seen on an x-ray or felt on an examination, it probably contains close to a billion cancer cells. This would be a tumor that is about 1 cm or the size of the tip of your little finger.

Most breast cancers start out in the breast duct and then invade or infiltrate between the breast ducts. The cells then have the potential to travel away from the breast duct to the lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body. After your breast cancer is diagnosed, your doctors will have information about your particular cancer cells to give you an idea of how rapidly they are dividing and how aggressively they might behave.

There are two general areas of concern when thinking about a breast cancer. First, how is the breast itself going to be treated? Your surgeon will offer you different options based on your particular tumor and situation. Mastectomy with or without reconstruction and breast conservation surgery are the general treatment options discussed. Axillary sampling often with a sentinel node procedure is important in most cases to determine the extent the cancer has spread. Radiation therapy is almost always used following breast conservation surgery. Partial breast irradiation using a balloon catheter in the lumpectomy cavity is a new treatment option that is appropriate for some patients. Some patients need radiation therapy after a mastectomy, if their tumor was large or lymph nodes were involved.

The second area of concern when thinking about breast cancer pertains to assessing the risk of cancer cells having traveled elsewhere in the body (metastasized) prior to diagnosis. You may have certain x-ray tests, called staging studies, to assess this. The medical oncologist will meet with you after your final surgery and review all of your results from pathology and staging studies. He or she will give you an idea of how likely it is for cancer to return elsewhere in your body and what systemic treatments (i.e. chemotherapy or anti-hormonal medications) might be helpful in decreasing the likelihood of cancer cells metastasizing.

Breast cancer varies between individuals, and a treatment plan will be outlined for you based on your particular cancer cells and your situation.

Clinical Trials

As a Texas Oncology patient, you may have the opportunity to receive newly-developed treatments or investigational drugs. Although they are unproven, new treatments and drugs can sometimes shrink tumors or alleviate symptoms.

To receive these services, you will likely be required to participate in research studies or clinical trials. These trials are designed to evaluate new cancer prevention and treatment options, as part of a deliberate and comprehensive research process that often takes years. Clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of new or modified treatments in cancer patients using new drugs, unique approaches to surgery and radiation therapy, or various combinations of treatments.

These scientific investigations are managed by leading oncologists and scientists across the country, who team up to find new methods for preventing, diagnosing and treating various cancers.

If you are interested in exploring these options, please talk with your oncologist. This is the most qualified person to help you make such decisions, and to connect you with programs most appropriate for your condition and goals. Also, participation in research and clinical trials is dependent on numerous factors relating to your health and the trials currently being offered.

To learn more about clinical trials and the research network that Texas Oncology participates in, visit:

Clinical Trials at Texas Oncology

The following links take you to more information regarding research and clinical trials. The content provided through these links are not the information of Texas Oncology or its network of medical practices, and Texas Oncology does not necessarily endorse such content. All content provided through links is for information only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician before acting or relying upon such information.

American Cancer Society, Clinical Trials

National Cancer Institute, Clinical Trials

CancerConsultant, Clinical Trials

Publications and News Releases the link below is not a publication or news release

TexasChrysalis: http://www.TexasChrysalis.org