Dr. Chagpar on Surgical Treatment of Patients With HER2+ Breast Cancer

Anees B. Chagpar, MD, associate professor of Surgery (Oncology), director of The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, Yale Cancer Center, discusses how surgical oncologists should approach the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

In clinical practice, Chagpar explains that she surgically treats patients the same, regardless of HER2 status. If eligible, HER2-positive patients can choose breast conservation surgery versus mastectomy with reconstruction.

However, molecular subtypes such as HER2 play a role in surgery when surgical oncologists collaborate with medical oncologists, Chagpar says. This is because patients may be eligible to enroll in neoadjuvant clinical trials that can impact their surgical treatments.