Breast Cancer Surgery Expertise; Comprehensive Care for Patients

Covenant Health’s Fort Loudoun Medical Center offers breast cancer surgery as part of the facility’s comprehensive care for breast cancer patients. Fort Loudoun Medical Center and Covenant Health provide resources such as Thompson Cancer Survival Center, oncology services in Lenoir City, Tennessee, and skilled surgeons who deliver an elevated standard of care that is typically found in larger cities.

Aaron G. Margulies, MD, is a board-certified general surgeon who is fellowship-trained in breast cancer surgery. At Fort Loudoun Breast and General Surgery, he believes helping breast cancer patients and their families understand cancer is the first step to survival and recovery. A cancer survivor himself, Dr. Margulies knows from experience the fear and uncertainty that can envelop his patients.

“Breast cancer is treatable,” Dr. Margulies says. He tells patients, “I’m going to be there to hold your hand and make sure you get the best treatment.”

Breast Cancer Surgery and Cancer Care – A Team Approach

Dr. Margulies’ intensive training in breast cancer surgery has given him a better understanding of the biology of cancer. It’s also given him a greater appreciation for the teamwork needed to treat breast cancer.

“I can talk with the medical oncologist in their language and understand the reasoning for recommending chemotherapy or systemic therapies. I can talk with the radiation oncologist in their language and understand the reasoning for recommending varying treatment plans of radiation therapy,” he says. “In this way, I can truly appreciate the multidisciplinary treatment plan and ensure the delivery of appropriate advanced care.”

A Cancer Survivor’s Story

Breast cancer survivor Kathy Brown says Dr. Margulies’ knowledge, compassion and faith carried her through three procedures, including a total mastectomy.

Brown had a lot on her calendar and much on her mind in early 2024. She became so busy attending to the needs of others that she skipped her annual mammogram. Then cancer came calling.

“I felt some discomfort under my arm,” Brown says, “so I did a self-exam, and I found a knot that hadn’t been there before.”

She was diagnosed with invasive papillary carcinoma. The rare type of malignant, invasive breast cancer spreads like fingers, reaching past the milk ducts into surrounding breast tissue.

Brown had faith in God, and she wanted a surgeon she could trust as well. Dr. Margulies was highly recommended, well-trained and gave her the comfort she needed in uncertain times.

“He’s not a stranger,” Brown says. “When you first meet him, he comes across as someone you’ve known before. He’s a calm, compassionate person—it radiates from him. You don’t feel as scared when you sit down and talk to him.”

“I’m a big believer in shared decision-making,” Dr. Margulies says. He explains, “I go through the whole history of what specific type of breast cancer a patient may have and how we evaluate that cancer. I make sure they’re up to speed on what treatment options are available. I want my breast cancer patients to be well-educated about the journey on which they are embarking.”

Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery

From the beginning, Dr. Margulies empowered Brown to take ownership of the treatment plan. Meanwhile, he promised her they would go through the breast cancer surgery process together from beginning to end. When Dr. Margulies asked permission to pray for her, Brown was even more confident her treatment was in the right hands.

He performed a total mastectomy in March 2024. “Dr. Margulies is an excellent surgeon,” Brown says, “and he’s my guardian angel.”

After surgery, the final pathology report showed no remaining cancer. Dr. Margulies kept up his connection with Brown, advising her to see an oncologist and to take cancer medication for five years to prevent any remaining cells from spreading.

Continuity in Breast Cancer Care

Breast cancer care doesn’t end after surgery. The best care comes from experts like Dr. Margulies who remain involved in the patient’s case from diagnosis through recovery. A comprehensive approach builds trust, helps intercept potential problems and coordinates care with the patient’s team of oncologists, radiologists, and other specialists.

“I was a general surgeon at first. The most rewarding part of my practice was helping women face the challenge of breast cancer. That’s why I furthered my education and training and completed a fellowship in breast cancer surgery,” Dr. Margulies says.

“I just have a passion for both the science and for helping human beings. We are all children of God and in God’s eyes, we are all the same,” he says, sharing a perspective that is his foundation for treating every patient with respect.

Breast cancer surgery is about more than just medical expertise. For cancer surgeons and specialists at Fort Loudoun Medical Center, it’s also about putting the patient first.

The Importance of Early Detection

As soon as she felt a lump in her breast, Kathy Brown made an appointment to get it checked. She believes early detection may have saved her life. After going through cancer diagnosis and breast cancer surgery, she encourages others to make breast health a priority.

“If you can catch cancer early it won’t give you a death sentence,” Brown says. “If you let it go, think about how much you could lose – your health, your family. And think about what your family will have to go through.

“But if you stay on top of your mammograms and yearly visits with your primary care provider or gynecologist, they can catch it early. Then it’s something you can deal with and not have to lose your life over.”

Brown offers encouragement for women who fear a cancer diagnosis. “We’re all going to go through valleys in this life,” she says. “You can get through it one day at a time with a strong family behind you and an excellent doctor.”

Schedule Your Mammogram Today

The American College of Radiology recommends annual mammograms for most women starting at age 40. Women who are at a higher risk should start screenings earlier.

Fort Loudoun Medical Center offers 3D mammography, an imaging process that can better detect smaller cancers. For answers to commonly asked questions about 3D mammography or to schedule a screening mammogram online, visit our web page. You can also call the scheduling line for the breast center at Fort Loudoun Medical Center at 865-374-4000.