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Stuart Oncology Associates
Personalized cancer care since 1979

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Breast cancer

Modern breast cancer care, coordinated close to home.

Breast cancer treatment has changed enormously — today it is highly individualized, guided by the biology of your specific tumor rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol. Our medical oncologists coordinate your systemic therapy hand-in-hand with your surgeon and radiation team, so the whole plan moves as one.

How we approach it

Therapy matched to biology

Hormone-receptor and HER2 status guide whether chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, or a combination fits your situation

One coordinated team

We work directly with your surgeon and radiation oncologist on sequencing — what happens first, and why

Genetic insight

Genetic and biomarker testing, when appropriate, can change both your treatment and what your family should know

What the workup looks like

1
Confirming the details

We review your pathology — including hormone-receptor and HER2 status — because these details drive every treatment decision.

2
Staging

Imaging and labs establish whether and where the cancer has spread, defining what treatment needs to accomplish.

3
Your individualized plan

Surgery, radiation, and medical therapy sequenced for your specific situation — explained in plain language, with every alternative on the table.

Radiation therapy for breast cancer

Radiation therapy is one of the tools we may use in treating breast cancer — often after breast-conserving surgery to lower the chance the cancer returns. When it’s part of your plan, it’s delivered with the advanced TrueBeam® system and planned by our board-certified radiation oncologist, Dr. Dan Ishihara, working hand-in-hand with your medical oncologist so radiation, drug therapy, and surgery come together as one plan rather than three.

Common questions

I found a lump — what should I do?
See your doctor promptly. Most breast lumps are benign, but every new lump deserves evaluation — typically an exam and imaging. If cancer is found, we prioritize getting you seen quickly.
Does every breast cancer need chemotherapy?
No. Many are treated with hormonal or targeted therapy instead, depending on the tumor's biology. Genomic tests can sometimes show chemotherapy would add little benefit.
What do hormone-receptor and HER2 status mean?
They describe proteins on the tumor that act like switches — and tell us which targeted treatments can flip them off. Your pathology report includes them, and we'll walk you through yours.
Should my family be tested?
If your history suggests an inherited risk, we'll discuss genetic testing — the results can matter for your treatment and for your relatives' screening.
What should I do about an abnormal mammogram?
An abnormal mammogram usually means more imaging or a biopsy is needed, and most turn out not to be cancer. If a biopsy does show cancer, we can see you quickly and walk you through every option.

This page is general information, not medical advice for your specific situation. Every cancer — and every patient — is different. Bring your questions to your care team.