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Chief, Division of Breast Surgery
Director, Breast Fellowship Program
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
Attending Surgeon
Clinical Director, Breast Service Line
Breast Cancer
I am acutely aware of the impact that a breast cancer diagnosis has on an individual. I do my best to foster a positive environment in which to start my patients' course of treatment and take the time to explain the pros and cons of each treatment option, so that they can make an informed decision. My treatment philosophy also includes, not just an emphasis on successful treatment, but also preserving a good cosmetic outcome. I feel fortunate to be a fellowship trained, very highly specialized clinician practicing at Fox Chase Cancer Center, which is an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, because this combination of factors allows me, and our treatment team, to focus on one thing all day, every day, and do it well: curing breast cancer. Additionally, what may be rarely seen by others, such as unusual pathology results, complex cases, or rare clinical situations (such as male breast cancer or breast cancers whose primary tumor cannot be found), I see frequently. I enjoy using that experience to help individuals where it may be hard for them to find expertise for their specific concern. When it comes to curing breast cancers of all types, I think there is nothing more rewarding that I could do as a clinician.
Follow on Twitter: @RichardBleicher
I’ve always been a healthy, active person. I don’t take any medications, I eat the best I can, and I walk at least two miles every day. I also get my routine mammogram every year.
There were a lot of things going on in my life when I first found a lump in my breast. My mother-in-law was in failing health, my two children were teenagers, and I was separating with my husband of 23 years. My life was in chaos; when I found the lump, it further added to that.
I’m 65 years old, and thanks to a 35-year career at the Department of Defense, I’ve been happily retired for just about a decade. I live in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, with my husband Bill, our dog Tess, short for Tess the Mess, and our cat Amoco, who is named for the gas station where we found her.
When I was growing up in Philadelphia’s Olney-Feltonville neighborhood, my grandmother made sure I knew how to run a household. She taught all of her grandchildren how to do essential household tasks, like sewing and cooking. I always looked forward to the day when I’d get to follow in her footsteps and pass these skills along to my son, Alex.
But when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 at age 43, I found myself worried about whether I would be able to carry on family traditions like this.
Health services research, breast imaging, breast cancer, population studies; Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer; Novel treatment modalities for breast cancer; Breast cancer clinical trials; Breast imaging and cancer outcomes, Disparities in breast cancer, Male and female breast cancer.
Patel RR, Li T, Ross EA, Sesa L, Sigurdson ER, Bleicher RJ. The effect of simultaneous peripheral excision in breast conservation upon margin status. Ann Surg Oncol 2010; 17, 2933-9. [DOI: 10.1245/s10434-010-1123-z, PubMed, NIHMS: 200283]
Bleicher RJ, Ciocca RM, Egleston BL, Sesa L, Evers K, Sigurdson ER, Morrow M. The association of routine pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging with time to surgery, mastectomy rate, and margin status. J Am Coll Surg 2009; 209: 180-187. Quiz 294-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.04.010, PubMed
Bleicher RJ, Kloth DD, Robinson D, Axelrod P. Inflammatory cutaneous adverse effects of methylene blue dye injection for lymphatic mapping/sentinel lymphadenectomy. J Surg Oncol 2009; 99:356-60. [DOI: 10.1002/jso.21240, PubMed]
Bleicher RJ, Topham NS, Morrow M. Beauty and the beast: Management of breast cancer after plastic surgery. Ann Surg 2008; 247:680-6. [DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e318161b40f, PubMed] Collapse
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