Breast Cancer Center
At the Breast Cancer Center, we strive to increase survival rates through early diagnosis and effective treatment of breast cancer. To do this, we have established strong cooperation between the departments of breast surgery, hematology and oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, laboratory medicine, plastic surgery, rehabilitation medicine, and nutrition. To improve patients’ quality of life and facilitate a smooth return to normal social life, we offer support services through the department of psychology, the cancer education center, the social work office, and a range of regional hospitals.
Major areas of treatment
Specialties: Recurrent/metastatic/intractable breast cancer, hereditary breast cancer, breast cancer in young women, breast cancer in pregnancy, male breast cancer, and benign breast disorders
Target: Patients under 40 years of age with breast cancer / Pregnant women with breast cancer (includes patients within 1 year of birth regardless of age)
Strengths
At Samsung’s Breast Cancer Center we treat around 2,000 patients annually, treating more than 15,000 patients to date. All treatments are patient-centric and rely on strong interdepartmental (multidisciplinary) cooperation to achieve the best results. To optimize patient prognosis and recovery, we provide not only international sanctioned treatments that meet or exceed global health standards, but we also participate in various multinational clinical studies. Respecting the special significance the breast has for many women, we also do everything within our ability to preserve or reconstruct the aesthetic appearance of the breast after treatment in order to make the patient’s social and psychological recovery from surgery as seamless as possible.
Diagnostic methods
Breast cancer is usually diagnosed by performing through a biopsy—either by needle aspiration, core biopsy, or mammotome—of suspicious lesions found during a mammogram or ultrasound. After diagnosis, our doctors perform a breast MRI to check for additional lesions. Whole body tests are then done to check for metastases in other organs. Depending on the results, the doctors and patient come to a decision regarding surgical methods and whether to perform preoperative chemotherapy.
Latest treatment methods
- Oncoplastic breast surgery
- Personalized treatment (cancer scan, AVATAR mouse)
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy (radioisostope, biopigment, fluorescent dye)
- Application of state-of-the-art chemotherapy and other anti-cancer therapies (targeted therapy Herceptin)
- Multinational clinical trials
Recent trends in clinical research
The Breast Cancer Center is playing a leading role in multi-institutional domestic and international clinical studies in all fields of treatment for breast cancer. The following is a list of recent studies conducted by our staff and faculty:
- A study on personalized treatment using genome analysis.
- A study on breast cancer genes (BRCA 1, BRCA2) in young breast cancer patients
- A genetic study on triple-negative breast cancer patients
- A treatment study on HER2-positive breast cancer patients
- A treatment study on hormone receptors
- A study on anti-hormonal therapy before and after menopause
- A study on anti-hormonal agents, up-to-date chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy
- A study on the treatment of early and advanced breast cancer
Other resources
We regularly host a general meeting through our online community in order to answer questions related to our patients’ adjustment after surgery and return to normal life. We are also trying to relieve our patients' concerns in order to create an ideal environment for treatment and care.