Fort Loudoun Breast and General Surgery
- Breast Center
About Fort Loudoun Breast and General Surgery
Our fellowship trained and board-certified breast surgical oncologist, Dr. Aaron Margulies, specializes in surgery of the breast. Dr. Margulies and his staff believe that education of patients and their families is the first step to recovery and survival when facing breast cancer. He will focus on accurate diagnosis, thorough explanation of all available treatment options, and compassionate surgical care. Our office is conveniently located in Fort Loudoun Medical Center. We’re proud to be a member of Covenant Medical Group, the physician practice group of Covenant Health.
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Meet Dr. Margulies
Dr. Aaron Margulies is a distinguished board-certified general surgeon at Fort Loudoun Breast and General Surgery, renowned for his expertise in treating breast cancer, hernias, and gastrointestinal conditions. He combines precision and compassion in his practice, employing advanced surgical procedures and patient-centered care.
Dr. Margulies attended medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, and his fellowship in breast cancer surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is breast cancer?
The breast is primarily composed of two units: labials that make milk and ducts that carry that milk out. These units are lined by cells which can turn cancerous. When cancerous cells form and stay inside the duct, we commonly refer to it as Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ (DCIS). More often, cancerous cells learn how to escape the duct and invade the breast. This is what we call Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer. A third form of cancer occurs when the cancer cells form in the labial and then escape the labial. This is called Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.
What are the stages of breast cancer?
Breast cancer has 5 stages as follows:
Stage 0 (DCIS)
Stage I (very early; very treatable)
Stage 2 (still early; may consider more aggressive treatment)
Stage 3 (locally advanced; very aggressive treatment)
Stage 4 (cancer exhibits distant spread; very aggressive treatment)
Regular mammograms and early detection leads to much more effective treatment and better outcomes.
What is the best treatment plan for breast cancer?
Treatment plans will vary by patient but most often consist of the following steps:
1. Presentation of your case before a Breast Tumor Board (a multi-disciplinary team who will come up with the best treatment plan to optimize your outcome)
2. Surgery
3. A return to Breast Tumor Board for finalization of treatment plan
4. Chemotherapy
5. Radiation or reconstruction
6. Anti-estrogen pill
What is invasive breast cancer?
We categorize invasive breast cancer in three ways:
By Type: Invasive Ductal or Invasive Lobular
By Grade: 1, 2, or 3
By Receptors: Estrogen (ER), Progesterone (PR), or HER2; these three receptors are either positive or negative
For example, someone may have Invasive Ductal, Grade 1, ER+/PR+/HR2-
What is the surgical treatment for breast cancer?
There are two ways to treat breast cancer. The first way is to excise the cancer with a rim of healthy tissue around it by performing a lumpectomy. Following this, we add radiation therapy to reduce the risk of a local recurrence. The other option is to remove the whole breast by performing a mastectomy. Many women who choose a mastectomy will elect to have reconstruction. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is the procedure we use to see if and where the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. This procedure helps determine whether a lumpectomy or a mastectomy is advisable.
What are the qualities to look for in a breast surgeon?
Choosing a breast surgeon you trust is of utmost importance. Some questions to consider when deciding who to entrust with your care include the following:
- Does my breast surgeon have advanced training and participate in continuing medical education?
- Does my breast surgeon have several years of experience?
- How many breast cancer patients does my surgeon treat in a year?
- Is my breast cancer surgeon part of a multi-disciplinary breast cancer team?