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Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

Ep. 625 Breast Cancer Risk, Screening, and Treatment with Dr. Elisa Port | Menopause, Perimenopause, Breast Health

Yesterday · 1 hr 6 min
0:00-1:06:05

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Today, I am delighted to connect with Dr. Elisa Port, a talented breast surgeon with a passion for helping women better understand breast cancer, breast health, and the science behind screening, diagnosis, and treatment. She’s the chief of breast surgery for Mount Sinai Health System in New York, a professor of surgery at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine, and the author of The Breast Advice.

In our conversation, we explore breast cancer risk factors, various screening mechanisms and their impact on dense breasts, and the role of diagnosis and pathology, including DCIS. We also discuss menopause symptom management, anti-hormone and targeted treatments, immunotherapy, de-escalation, and why a personalized approach to breast cancer treatment is so important. 

Stay tuned for a truly informative conversation with Dr. Port. With her infectious optimism, she has a wonderful way of translating the science and the research in her book, making it accessible and putting the statistics into context so the information feels far less scary than it otherwise might.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

  • How 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family cancer history

  • How body weight and alcohol can influence breast cancer risk

  • Why Dr. Port recommends annual mammograms beginning at age 40 for most women

  • Dr. Port may disagree with recommendations against breast self-exams

  • Why women with dense breasts may benefit from supplemental ultrasound or MRI in addition to mammography

  • Unvalidated breast screening tests may lead to false positives, unnecessary testing, procedures, anxiety, and expense.

  • What DCIS is, and how it influences treatment decisions

  • Why an individualized approach is essential when using SERMs, SERDs, and aromatase inhibitors

  • How Oncotype testing helps to identify women who may safely avoid chemotherapy

Bio: Dr Elisa Port

Dr. Elisa Port, MD, is chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, which encompasses seven different breast centers. Her team performs over a thousand breast surgical procedures each year. She is also the director of the Dubin Breast Center, a state-of-the-art breast center in Manhattan that opened in April 2011.

She personally consults with thousands of patients and performs hundreds of operations each year. Dr. Port is a trusted voice in the media and a sought-after speaker. She has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, CBS, Today, Mornings with Maria, and Pix11.

In addition to her media presence, Dr. Port regularly speaks at public events and is invited to present at conferences and panels across the country. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two dogs.

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