Alicia Arnold, DO

Breast Surgical Oncologist Augusta University

  • Augusta GA

Dr. Alicia Arnold is an expert in breast cancer, cancer surgery and cancer survivorship.

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2 min

Covering Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Our experts are ready for your questions and coverage

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that on average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. And according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation: In 2021, an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 49,290 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. 63% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage (there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast), for which the 5-year survival rate is 99%. This year, an estimated 43,600 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S. Although rare, men get breast cancer too. In 2021, an estimated 2,650 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in the U.S. and approximately 530 will die. 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. It is estimated that in 2021, approximately 30% of all new women cancer diagnoses will be breast cancer. There are over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. This year's theme is It's Time to Rise and the National Breast Cancer Foundation has a host of materials to watch and read for anyone looking to test themselves, find support or learn how they can help. If you're a journalist looking to know more about this topic or if you are covering Breast Cancer Awareness month then let our experts help with your stories. Dr. Alicia Vinyard is a Board-Certified General Surgeon and Fellowship Trained Breast Surgical Oncologist at the Georgia Cancer Center and Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Dr. Vinyard is also an expert in breast cancer, cancer surgery and cancer survivorship. She is available to speak to media about Breast Cancer Awareness Month – simply click on her icon to now arrange an interview today.

Alicia Arnold, DO

2 min

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Let our experts help with your coverage

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and if you are a reporter looking to know more or considering covering this topic, here are a few key facts to get started according to Breastcancer.org: About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.  In 2019, an estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 62,930 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.  About 2,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2019. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 883. About 41,760 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2019 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1989. For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.  Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. In 2019, it's estimated that about 30% of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers.  In women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women. A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it. At Augusta University, we have leading experts who can help with any of your questions, assist with your coverage and ensure your story has all the facts and details it requires to be a compelling and effective piece. Dr. Alicia Vinyard is a Board-Certified General Surgeon and Fellowship Trained Breast Surgical Oncologist at the Georgia Cancer Center and Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Dr. Vinyard is also an expert in breast cancer, cancer surgery and cancer survivorship. She is available to speak to media about Breast Cancer Awareness Month – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.

Alicia Arnold, DO

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Biography

Dr. Alicia Arnold is a Board Certified General Surgeon and Fellowship Trained Breast Surgical Oncologist at the Georgia Cancer Center and Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She decided to specialize in breast surgical oncology to help other breast cancer survivors like herself. She treats patients with benign and malignant breast disease and assists in other surgical oncologic needs.

Areas of Expertise

Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cancer Survivorship
Surgical Oncology

Education

Philadelphia College of Osteop

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy

University of North Carolina

Bachelor's Degree

Psychology

University of Miami

Fellowship

Breast Surgical Oncology

Media Appearances

Breast Cancer Breakthroughs People at high risk for breast cancer are benefiting from a heightened focus on prevention and personalized treatment of the disease.

Georgia Trend  online

2024-05-31

Alicia Arnold was just finishing her third year of medical school when she found a lump in her breast. It was a discovery that would change her life.

“To be honest, I really thought it was nothing,” she says. “I assumed it was a cyst or something. I was so young, and there was no family history of any cancer.” She had a workup done and received good news: The lump appeared benign.

But – fortunately, as it turns out – the mass was painful, which prompted her to have it removed. Three days later, she got the report that she had invasive breast cancer. It was, she says, a massive shock – all the more so because breast cancer usually isn’t painful. That’s why Arnold says she was lucky that it hurt.

She took a leave of absence from med school to have another surgery, which included removing lymph nodes under her arm after tests showed the cancer had spread to one node, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

Afterward, Arnold returned to school, only to find herself paired with a breast surgeon during her clinical surgery rotation. She remembers thinking, “Oh my God, the last thing I want anything to do with is breast cancer.” It turned out to be just the opposite.

“I connected with these patients,” says Dr. Arnold, now a breast surgeon herself and director of the breast program at the Georgia Cancer Center at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) in Augusta, which is now affiliated with Wellstar. She recalls seeing one patient during her student clinical rotations who was very anxious and upset about what a chemo port would look like. “I just pulled down my collar and said, ‘It’s going to look like this.’”

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New procedure helps prevent breast cancer complications in the arm

News Channel 6  online

2018-07-15

A local doctor helped save a woman battling breast cancer from additional pain and suffering after performing a procedure she just brought to the CSRA. While we don't typically connect the arm with breast cancer, one oncologist says you should...

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As cancer surgeon and patient, I know your journey

The Augusta Chronicle  online

2018-06-23

Cancer Survivor Month provides an opportunity to consider what happens when the cancer goes away

Cancer. It’s a simple word made up of just six letters, but it represents a disease that’s anything but simple...

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Articles

Evaluation of simplified lymphatic microsurgical preventing healing approach (SLYMPHA) for the prevention of breast cancer-related clinical lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection.

An American Society of Clinical Oncology Journal

Tolga Ozmen, Mesa Lazaro, Yan Zhou, Alicia Vinyard, Eli Avisar

2017

Lymphedema (LE) is a serious complication of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with an incidence rate of 16%. Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (LYMPHA) has been proposed as an effective adjunct to ALND for the prevention of LE...

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A Breast Cancer Review: Through the Eyes of the Doctor, Nurse, and Patient

Journal of Radiology Nursing

GA Klevos, NS Ezuddin, A Vinyard, T Ghaddar…

2017

Breast cancer patients endure many challenges in their journey. During the course of their treatment, they interact with several multidisciplinary teams, including radiologists, breast surgeons, and oncologists, as well as nurses, genetic counselors, social workers, and psychologists. This article aims to provide a synoptic review, including the background, causes, screening, diagnosis, and treatment options of breast cancer, by exploring the perspectives of the physician, nurse, and patient...

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