About This Specialty
UT Health Austin’s Breast Cancer specialty within the Livestrong Cancer Institutes provides care for adult patients (18 years and older) of all genders with a breast cancer diagnosis, including DCIS, early stage, recurrent, and advanced or metastatic breast cancers. We also provide genetic counseling, surveillance, and treatment for adult patients who have inherited gene mutations that confer a high risk of developing a breast cancer, such as BRCA. From the time of diagnostic biopsy, your cancer treatment is coordinated with a variety of specialists who can provide expertise. We care for a range of patients, including those who have complex breast cancer treatment histories. We combine the latest research and methodologies with supportive care for the body, mind, and heart through an integrated comprehensive approach designed to help you and your loved ones maintain balance and wellness through your breast cancer journey.
Treatment Approach
At UT Health Austin, we take a multidisciplinary approach to your care. This means you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines caring for you in one place. The Breast Cancer care team includes a breast medical oncologist, oncofertility specialist, genetic counselor, physical therapist, dietitian, social worker, and more as well as other members of the CaLM Care Team who work together to help you get back to the things in your life that matter most to you. Our team collaborates closely with referring physicians and other partners in the community to schedule and coordinate any additional breast oncology care services you may need, including breast surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, and clinical trials.
We collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research and treatment techniques, allowing us to provide you with world-class, personalized breast cancer treatment. We call our approach to cancer care CaLM (Cancer Life reiMagined), and your treatment begins with a comprehensive, whole-person assessment that your care team will use to develop a personalized care plan to treat your condition and help restore your wellness. Depending on your specific needs, your treatment may include combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy. Advanced imaging and lab testing are also available on-site if needed.
Appointment Information
At UT Health Austin, we focus on you, the whole patient, making sure that you have the support you need throughout your care. We are committed to clear and timely communication with you, your referring provider, and other healthcare specialists, beginning with your initial visit and continuing throughout your cycle of care. Once we receive a referral from your referring provider, members of the Breast Cancer care team will identify any existing records of treatment in the UT Health Austin system and communicate with your referring provider to obtain additional medical records and other information. If you have received medical treatment from a provider other than your referring provider, your care team will contact you to receive a written Authorization to Receive Medical Records from your other provider(s). The Breast Cancer care team generally will not schedule your initial appointment until all relevant records have been received. Once all records have been received and reviewed, the UT Health Austin Access Center will contact you to schedule your initial appointment.
Managing breast cancer is hard enough without having to search for what you need, which is why we compiled a checklist to help you prepare for your first appointment. During your initial visit, your care team will review your medical history, perform a physical exam, schedule any further testing, and discuss the next steps of your care with you and your family.
To explore FAQs regarding your upcoming appointment, please click here.