Radiation Oncology of Atlanta, Breast Cancer Introduction

Radiation Oncology of Atlanta and Breast Conservation Therapy:

Leaders in Quality, Research, Technology and Caring

Dr. Hamilton Williams brings over 20 years of experience to women who who make the positive choice to preserve their breast as part of breast cancer treatment. In this section, we review breast cancer: its development, detection, staging and treatment options focusing on breast conservation therapy, or BCT. We also discuss when radiation therapy is appropriate following removal of the breast, known as mastectomy.

Our goal is to provide the finest quality care and the most experienced physician and therapy team in Georgia for the radiation therapy essential for breast conservation. Dr. Williams is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, with years of experience caring for and treating cancer patients.

We have analyzed and presented treatment results for one of the largest series of women treated with breast conservation between 1986 and 2001 in the United States. With more than 10-year follow-up, 92 percent of women treated were free from recurrence of cancer in the breast. These results compare very favorably to the national and international trials of women and breast cancer.

This important research data has been presented at many national and international meetings including the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, and at the prestigious European Conference on Strategies and Outcomes in Cancer among others. Additionally, a presentation by Dr. Williams on African-American women and breast cancer received a Blue Ribbon Award from the Georgia Cancer Coalition for “Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research and Treatment.”

Over the past years, Dr Williams helped pioneer in Atlanta the advanced radiotherapy treatment techniques, including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy/Electronic Compensation. IMRT/EC lets doctors focus treatment to areas of cancer in a much more conforming and balanced way than ever before, ensuring better cancer coverage with fewer side effects. Additionally, Dr. Williams performs Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation, as well as Accelerated Hypofractionated Breast Irradiation. Both techniques, for selected women, allow a shorter overall treatment time than previously had been possible.

We also believe that diet and nutritional improvement, exercise, and moral support are important in a woman’s overall treatment. Information on these topics and more is available at our treatment offices.

Radiation Oncology of Atlanta and their team of physicians, physicists, therapists and support staff provide a wealth of expertise, quality and compassion to help you discuss and better understand breast cancer. We strongly encourage you to get regular mammograms, and to read this material carefully before making any decisions about breast cancer treatment — for yourself or someone you love. Quite simply, it could make a life-altering difference.

Please call Radiation Oncology of Atlanta at 404-705-9192, or contact us here if you have questions or want to schedule a consultation or follow-up appointment.

Read our Privacy Statement

Dear Reader,

We developed this educational information to raise awareness of breast cancer for the women in our community. Breast cancer is the Number Two cancer killer of women in the United States, surpassed only by lung cancer. Because one of every eight American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, it is likely that you may know a friend who has had breast cancer—or perhaps breast cancer has already struck in your family. While no one wants breast cancer, we believe the best strategy for survival is early detection—to find and treat breast cancer before it becomes life threatening.

The information presented here is based on years of experience of the expert physicians at ROA. It is also based on research findings — both ours and other investigators —presented at scientific meetings or published in medical journals. We emphasize the importance of screening for early detection as well as the most advanced radiotherapy treatments for women already diagnosed with breast cancer. Chemotherapy plays a major role in treatment for many women, and we refer the reader where appropriate to additional resources.

We believe every woman needs to know her options so she can make an informed decision. She should understand her disease, be knowledgeable about her treatment options, confident of her choice of physicians, and comfortable with her plan of action. While nothing can completely remove the fear and anxiety of a breast cancer diagnosis, we hope we can empower every woman to approach breast cancer with an increased sense of knowledge and security.

If you have additional questions after reading this information, or if you would like to visit Radiation Oncology of Atlanta, please call us at 404-705-9192.

Thank you,

Radiation Oncology of Atlanta

Click below to find out more about Breast Cancer:

Breast Cancer Questions and Answers

Note: The Breast Cancer Question and Answer page contains images of patients who have undergone a variety of breast cancer procedures. By clicking on the above link, you agree that you are over 18 years of age and wish to see the material.