Breast Cancer Management

Breast Surgery

From diagnostic procedures to surgery, and from systemic treatments to follow-up care, Dr. Ebanks and her close network of cancer care specialists can help you receive the most necessary treatment on the Island. Our clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and works with a multidisciplinary team that can help you at every stage of your recovery.Even if you were diagnosed with breast cancer outside the Cayman Islands and want to continue treatment locally, we provide a range of treatment options at Cayman Islands Surgery Center.

How Do You Treat Breast Cancer?

Treatment of breast cancer depends on its type, location and stage. It also depends on a patient’s age and general health, among many other factors.

Because breast cancer is so complex, it requires a team of specialists working closely together to create a highly individualized treatment plan. This team usually consists of a surgeon like Dr. Ebanks, who specializes in general and breast surgery. Medical and radiation oncologists are also involved in breast cancer management. One highly trained local oncologist Dr. Ebanks has been working with in the past is Dr, Awashti. You may see many other specialists such as plastic surgeons https://www.annedancey.co.uk and internists https://www.helix.ky who are working together with our offices or whom we refer you to during your treatment. Of course your primary physician is a very important part of the team as well, since they usually know you best and for the longest time. Other members of our team can include nurses, nutritionists, physical therapists and mental health specialists, to name a few.

As a general rule, most treatment of breast cancer involves the following procedures:

Surgery

Breast cancer usually needs to be surgically removed. Dr. Ebanks has over a decade of experience performing breast cancer surgery, including lumpectomies, mastectomies and sentinel node biopsies. The stage and type of your cancer, as well as your personal preferences, determine which of these approaches is right for you. We typically avoid removing the entire breast (mastectomy) if cancer is detected early. Many of these procedures are done on an outpatient basis.

Radiation therapy

After surgery, a lot of breast cancer patients are advised to undergo radiation therapy. This treatment involves using high doses of radiation to kill any leftover cancer cells and reduce the risk of breast cancer from coming back. Radiation therapy is performed by radiation oncologists.. Dr. Ebanks can recommend several specialists overseas, since this treatment is currently not available in Cayman yet. You may also be offered radiation therapy if your breast cancer cannot be removed surgically or if you have metastatic breast cancer.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a type of systemic treatment. It is mainly used to prevent cancer recurrence. Doctors may recommend chemotherapy to shrink breast tumors or control cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy involves using cytotoxic (toxic to cancer cells) drugs that you take by mouth or are given by injection. These drugs travel through your bloodstream to find and destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs interfere with cell division, this way stopping malignant cells from multiplying and spreading.

Hormonal Therapy, Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy

Some patients also undergo additional treatment after their surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation. They may be offered hormonal therapy, targeted drug therapy or immunotherapy. Those are treatments given by pill or injection and aim to keep your cancer under control for many years after your initial diagnosis. You will discuss your best options with your oncologist. If you don’t have one we are happy to refer you to one of our colleagues on island.

Reconstructive Surgery

You may be interested in breast reconstruction surgery after successful cancer treatment. This can be done delayed or immediate; with implants or your own tissue. Dr Ebanks works with renowned plastic surgeons, such as Dr. Anne Dancey and Dr. Eduardo Barroso to find the best treatment option for you.

Breast Cancer Management
in the Cayman Islands

If you were diagnosed with breast cancer or received cancer treatment outside the Cayman Islands, you may be worried about what switching to a different health care provider could mean for you. We aim to make your transition to a new setting as smooth and prompt as possible. Keeping copies of your medical records can help our team prevent delays in treatment. After scheduling an appointment at Cayman Islands Surgery Center, we will carefully look at your medical history and medical records to develop a treatment plan that works with your particular case and schedule. If your medical care began elsewhere, we can move you through your health plan and insurance system so you can receive prompt care in our clinic. While switching to a new health care provider often delays treatment, this does not have to be the case. At Cayman Islands Surgery Center, we make it a priority that all our patients receive timely care. If you have already been treated for cancer and only require follow-up care, we can provide you with this as well. Breast cancer can recur, which is why follow-up monitoring is so important. We offer clinical breast exams, determine and advise you at what interval what imaging modality is best for you, help you choose the most appropriate location for you. We will facilitate the referral accordingly, whether you have received your treatment outside the Islands or not.

You may suffer long-term side effects following breast cancer treatment. While this is normal, there is also no need to endure the side effects without treatment.

Common side effects we see in breast cancer patients include hardening of scar tissue, musculoskeletal symptoms and lymphedema. Dr. Ebanks works together with plastic surgeon and lymphedema specialist Dr. Anne Dancey and local physical therapist, that can treat some of these issues on island, so you do not have to leave the Islands to get adequate care.

You may suffer long-term side effects following breast cancer treatment. While this is normal, there is also no need to endure the side effects without treatment.

Make an Appointment

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, even outside of the Cayman Islands, and you wish to have treatment, we welcome you to make an appointment with Dr. Tanja Ebanks at Cayman Islands Surgery Center. Dr. Tanja is a general surgeon who also specializes in breast cancer surgery and has over a decade of experience providing treatment to women diagnosed with breast cancer. She will carefully assess your condition and find the best treatment options for you. To learn more about this procedure, call Dr. Ebanks today at +1 345 946 0067. You can also fill out our online contact form to have a staff member call you at a more convenient time. You can message Cayman Surgery directly at office@caymansurgery.ky

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FAQS

When should I start screening for breast cancer?

Most women should undergo regular mammography screening after age 40. Women at a higher risk due to family history or other factors should consider starting sooner. If you were treated for breast cancer and did not remove both breasts, you may need regular imaging on the remaining breast. If you are at higher risk for breast cancer, you might also be offered to start screening with different modalities from an earlier age. We regularly perform clinical exams and refer for mammography screening or other appropriate imaging as needed to local or overseas facilities.

What treatment options are available at Cayman Islands Surgery Center?

At Cayman Islands Surgery Center, we provide diagnostic procedures, surgery, work together with oncologists and reconstructive surgeons and provide follow-up care. More specifically, we perform clinical annual screening, breast ultrasounds, breast biopsies, breast cancer removal surgery and facilitate oncology referral for additional systemic treatment and work together with plastic surgeons to reconstruct the breast, and we monitor your health after breast cancer treatment.

How much experience do you have treating breast cancer?

Dr. Ebanks has over 15 years of experience performing surgery on breast cancer patients. She also has a long standing working relationship with breast cancer specialists in Florida and all over the world and her referral network has grown over these many years.

Do you provide second opinions?

Yes, we can provide you with a second opinion about your treatment options and cancer diagnosis. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment at 345 946 0067.

Can I go home immediately after breast cancer surgery?

A lumpectomy can be performed on an outpatient basis. For mastectomies, patients usually stay in the hospital overnight so we can monitor their recovery.

Can my insurance cover breast cancer treatment in your clinic?

Cayman Islands Surgery Center uses the Standard Health Insurance Fees of the Cayman Islands Published with Extraordinary Gazette 9 August 2013 in accordance with Section 19 of the Health Insurance Law (2011 Revision) and local health insurance carriers cover breast cancer treatment according to your plan.