New Young Women’s Breast Cancer Clinic Addresses Special Needs

Halle Moore, MD

Breast cancer is relatively uncommon in younger women. Of the more than 230,000 new cases of breast cancer expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2015, only about 11 percent will involve women younger than 45.

Young breast cancer patients have special concerns. Their cancers tend to be more advanced, more aggressive, more likely to be caused by an inherited defective gene, and may respond differently to treatment compared with breast tumors in older women. Issues of infertility, body image, and the disease’s impact on family life, relationships, career and finances also are different for younger women.

Cleveland Clinic has launched the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Clinic to coordinate care and address the specific needs of newly diagnosed patients younger than 50.

Support for complex cases, issues

“These women have a lot going on in their lives,” says oncologist Halle Moore, MD, the program’s director and a national authority on breast cancer. “They’re juggling jobs, parenting and educational demands. They have complex diagnostic, therapeutic and support issues. We have more and more options to discuss with them. We want to offer these patients everything they need as soon as possible.”

“When breast cancer happens to women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, it poses some different challenges,” adds Jame Abraham, MD, Director of Medical Oncology and Co-Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program. “From diagnosis to treatment and survivorship, it requires a coordinated, comprehensive approach.”

“Along with advanced medical and surgical care, having a support system of mental health professionals, social workers and peers who understand and can help with what young breast cancer patients are going through is extremely important,” says Stephen Grobmyer, MD, Director of Surgical Oncology and Co-Director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program.

A wide array of patient services

Services offered at the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Clinic include:

• Genetic counseling to review screening options, and genetic testing to detect alterations in BRCA1, BRCA2 or other genes associated with increased breast cancer risk, which may enable management targeted to specific mutations
• A thrice-weekly clinic with coordinated medical, surgical, radiology and related consultation appointments, to accelerate treatment time and reduce return visits
• Dedicated pathology and imaging specialists who deal exclusively with breast diagnostic issues
• Access to the latest strategies for fertility preservation and assisted reproduction, including ovarian cycling suppression during chemotherapy; oocyte, embryo and ovarian tissue harvesting and cryopreservation; and in vitro fertilization
• Advanced surgical options for breast conservation, reconstruction and lymphedema reduction, including nipple-sparing mastectomy; single-stage mastectomy and breast implant insertion; and vascularized lymph node flap transfer
• Single-dose intraoperative radiation therapy for appropriate patients
• Access to a wide array of clinical trials, including areas of research with particular impact on young breast cancer patients
• Support groups and other psychological and lifestyle counseling and therapy intended for young breast cancer patients

Dr. Jame Abraham is Director of Medical Oncology at Cleveland Clinic and Co-Director of Cleveland Clinic’s Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program.

Dr. Stephen Grobmyer is Director of Surgical Oncology at Cleveland Clinic and Co-Director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Program.

Dr. Halle Moore is a Cleveland Clinic oncologist and Director of the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Clinic.