Welcome to The Breast Advice! I’m Dr. Elisa Port, the chief of breast surgery at the Mount Sinai Health System. If you are reading this, chances are that you or someone you love has questions or concerns about breast health, breast cancer risk, or already has a diagnosis. Regardless, I’m glad you’re here: you’re in the right place.
In this weekly substack, I’m going to share with you insights I have gleaned from patients I’ve treated, offering you the benefit of their amazing wisdom and advice. These are the women who are going to help you understand what to expect, how to deal with the emotional fallout, the ones who are going to tell you, “I’ve been there and I know the road is tough, but you will make it.” And alongside those stories, you’re also going to find commentary from me, an MD with 30 years in the field, for the most comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date medical information on breast health, diagnosis, and care available.
Throughout my career as a breast surgeon, I’ve successfully treated many thousands of patients while also addressing the concerns of their loved ones, who may be dealing with increased risk. As scary as it is to get any kind of cancer diagnosis, thanks to advances in screening and effective treatments, I’m here to tell you that breast cancer is now one of the most treatable, curable cancers out there, with the vast majority of patients having every reason to feel optimistic about a healthy outcome. In fact, between 2010 and 2020 the survival rate from breast cancer went up 80 percent for young women, and the overall survival rate is now at 91 percent. Reasons for optimism, indeed.