Breast Cancer Care

If You’re Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we know that a breast cancer diagnosis is never what you expect to hear. If your head is spinning, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to support you every step of the way on this journey.

First things first: you expect and deserve the best possible care. Our Breast Centers offer a multidisciplinary, team approach, ensuring that your treatment plan is unique to you. From your initial meeting all the way through to survivorship care and beyond, the St. Elizabeth Breast Centers provide compassionate, comprehensive cancer care.

How is breast cancer treated?

Breast cancer care has significantly evolved over the last two decades. With such incredible advancements in technology, breast cancer treatment options have expanded well beyond just chemotherapy.

At the St. Elizabeth Breast Centers, our breast health team gathers detailed information from your health history and test results to create a customized, comprehensive treatment plan. Our goal is to make the best possible treatment recommendation, using specialized testing that can help us tailor treatments to your specific cancer cells.

Possible breast cancer treatment options can include a combination of:

As a St. Elizabeth Breast Center patient, you will be an active participant in your treatment plan. We work collaboratively to address all of your needs and concerns. As always, your health and well-being are our top priority. Our experts will make their treatment recommendations and we’ll work together to make it a plan that works for you and your loved ones.

Dr. Abello and Patient

Contact Us

Whatever you need during your breast cancer journey, the St. Elizabeth Breast Center is here for you.

Call us at (877) 424-5750 for more information or to schedule an appointment today.

What happens after treatment?

St. Elizabeth Healthcare works closely with our breast cancer patients who have completed treatment, helping to bridge your care into survivorship. We follow the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for Breast Cancer Survivorship Care to ensure comprehensive, proactive attention. These surveillance guidelines include:

  • Assessment of your physical and emotional well-being
  • Education on healthy eating and exercise
  • Symptom management from treatment
  • Regular secondary cancer screenings
  • Routine checkups for overall health

St. Elizabeth Survivorship Clinic

The St. Elizabeth Survivorship Clinic for our breast cancer patients helps promote continued healing and overall wellness, giving you a physical and emotional support system as you heal. We will help coordinate your follow-up care and together, we’ll create a surveillance program that encompasses all of your medical needs. Our Survivorship team will also regularly check in with you to address any concerns you may have.

St. Elizabeth Survivorship Clinic locations:

St. Elizabeth Edgewood
Nurse Navigator: (859) 301-2273
Appointments: (859) 301-9186

St. Elizabeth Ft. Thomas
Nurse Navigator: (859) 572-3681
Appointments: (859) 572-3681

Support Groups

We know you’ll need support, guidance and reliable information to live your healthiest life. We can offer resources on ways to seek out support from other women going through a similar journey.

Visit the Women’s Boutique

No matter what your age, stage in life or health condition, the St. Elizabeth Women’s Health Boutique is right here for you.

Learn More

Genetic Counseling

We offer genetic testing for patients diagnosed with breast cancer and those who want to understand their breast cancer risk. Our team of certified genetic counselors recommends genetic testing for all women diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of age or family history.

Our team will determine if your breast cancer is related to a genetic cause. We discover an underlying genetic cause for breast cancer in about 15% of patients, helping to identify at-risk immediate family members such as a daughter, sister and mother. Genetic testing can also help guide breast cancer treatment options, giving your breast care team vital information to effectively tailor your chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Specific genes associated with breast cancer can also increase your risk of other cancers, including ovarian, prostate, uterine, melanoma and colon. The St. Elizabeth Hereditary Cancer Program will help you coordinate your screenings to ensure the correct screenings are performed on the right timeline. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (859) 301-GENE (4363).

Nurse Navigators Help You Move Forward with Confidence

Our nurse navigators are vital in guiding and supporting you through the cancer treatment journey. With their specialized knowledge and compassionate approach, nurse navigators offer constant assistance, providing valuable information, coordinating appointments and helping to navigate the healthcare system. They offer emotional support, answer questions and address concerns to ensure you feel empowered and well-informed.

By serving as a trusted advocate, nurse navigators steer you through the challenges of cancer treatment, enhancing your overall experience and providing personalized care every step of the way.

Breast Cancer Facts with St. Elizabeth Experts

St. Elizabeth Oncologists explain what breast cancer is, its causes, why early detection is important and the various treatment options available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Cancer Care

Breast cancer staging describes how large the tumor is and whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other parts of the body. Doctors determine the stage using information from imaging tests, biopsies and sometimes surgery. Staging helps guide treatment decisions and may influence whether therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation or targeted treatments are recommended.
Breast cancer can sometimes spread to nearby lymph nodes, most commonly in the underarm area. If cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes, it does not necessarily mean the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body. However, it may affect staging and influence treatment recommendations.
A lumpectomy removes only the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue while preserving most of the breast. A mastectomy removes the entire breast. The best option depends on several factors, including the size and location of the tumor, whether multiple tumors are present, genetic risk factors such as BRCA mutations and your personal preferences.
You may need chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) or after surgery (adjuvant therapy), depending on the type and stage of breast cancer. When given before surgery, chemotherapy may help shrink the tumor and make it easier to remove. After surgery, it may help reduce the risk of cancer returning.
Hormone-receptor positive (HR+) breast cancers grow in response to hormones such as estrogen or progesterone. Because of this, hormone-blocking medications, called endocrine therapy, can be effective. These medications may include drugs such as tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors and are often used in addition to surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Knowing your receptor status is an important step in developing a personalized treatment plan.
HER2-positive breast cancer means your tumor produces high levels of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which can cause cancer cells to grow more quickly. While HER2-positive cancers can be more aggressive, they also respond well to targeted therapies that specifically block the HER2 protein. At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, your care team will confirm your HER2 status through pathology testing and incorporate targeted therapy into your treatment plan.
Triple-negative breast cancer means the tumor lacks estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 overexpression. Because of this, hormone therapies and HER2-targeted drugs are not effective. Treatment typically involves chemotherapy and sometimes immunotherapy. Triple-negative breast cancer may also be linked to inherited genetic mutations, which is why genetic counseling and testing may be recommended.
Many patients choose to have breast reconstruction done at the same time as a mastectomy. There are different types of reconstruction — some use implants and others use tissue from your own body. The best option depends on your health, your treatment plan and your personal goals. Your care team will explain your choices and help you decide what’s right for you.
If genetic testing identifies a hereditary mutation such as BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2, it may indicate an increased risk of certain cancers for close family members. Genetic counselors can help explain these results and guide conversations with relatives who may wish to consider their own testing and screening plans. Understanding hereditary risk can help families take proactive steps to prevent and detect cancer early.
Younger women diagnosed with breast cancer may face unique concerns, including fertility preservation, treatment-related menopause and long-term planning. Your care team can connect you with fertility specialists, counseling services, support groups and other resources for younger patients. Nurse navigators can help coordinate these services and ensure you receive the support you need throughout treatment and recovery.

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