Early detection is changing breast cancer treatment

^{Above: Poorni Manohar, M.D., speaks with KATU's "AM Northwest."}

October 2026

Breast cancer care has changed dramatically, with earlier detection and more precise tools helping clinicians tailor treatment to each patient. In many cases, finding cancer earlier can mean doing less.

“Early detection is key. We know that early detection both improves survival and, you know, has less treatment,” Poorni Manohar, M.D., an oncologist with Providence Cancer Institute, says.

Finding cancer earlier can improve survival while reducing the amount of treatment some patients need.

Dr. Manohar recommends women begin mammograms at age 40, with screening frequency determined through a conversation with their physician.

“We've seen actually an increasing incidence, particularly in that 40-to-50 age range, of increasing risk of breast cancer,” she says.

Advances in surgery, radiation and tumor testing are helping physicians personalize care and, in some cases, avoid chemotherapy.

“Really the paradigm has shifted dramatically to doing less while still providing the same efficacy,” Dr. Manohar says.

“Now we have this genetic type of testing where we can take a piece of your cancer, send it out for testing, and actually figure out who's a bad actor and who's not.”

Dr. Manohar is also helping develop Providence's survivorship program, which addresses needs including heart, mental, sexual and bone health.

“Myself and many of my colleagues in this space really believe that survivorship starts on day one,” she says.

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Related

• Schedule an appointment at Providence Cancer Institute Franz Clinic.
• Read a story about enhanced mammography options for breast cancer patients at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.