Dr. Linda Smith Featurette – Linda Ann Smith, MD, F.A.C.S.

With an inside look into Dr. Linda Smith’s practice we are able to see the advancements in treatment she implements as one of New Mexico’s leading Breast Care Specialists. Dr. Smith has been practicing for over 30 years since 1984 and solely dedicated to the treatment of breast disease.

The genes of the early Spanish Conquistadors who immigrated into New Mexico and other areas of the Southwest have a very high rate of being associated with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes commonly tied to breast cancer. Due to this heritage testing families and individuals for breast cancer helps to detect genetic predispositions early, greatly reducing the high risk of the disease before it emerges. Often times when the BRCA1 gene is detected this also means there is a high risk of Ovarian cancer. Dr. Smith will then partner with an Ovarian Specialist to monitor for those risks as well.

Mammography screenings are another important tool in the detection of breast cancer and have been recommend to occur at a much younger age than before in the past. Mammography tends to catch cancers 5 to 10 years earlier than any other current method. It has been found too that most women who get breast cancer do not have a family history, so mammography is a huge tool in the prevention of breast cancer in women.

Genetic testing has become an emerging science that gives a background into why diseases may happen and is one of the most crucial tools in the detection and prevention of breast cancer today. In the prevention of breast disease genetic testing helps to find the genes that may contribute to cancers before they occur. In addition through genetic testing on the cancers themselves we are able to create customized treatments for our patients making the treatment more focused and effective while reducing the risks and side effects.