New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Advise Mammograms at Age 40
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends women start getting mammograms at age 40, as breast cancer rates are increasing in younger women.
About Michelle Specht, MD
Dr. Michelle Specht is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Cornell University Medical College. She completed her surgical training at New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center. She spent two years during her surgical training as a research fellow. Following her residency, Dr. Specht completed a fellowship in Breast Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Since 2004, Dr. Specht has been on staff at Massachusetts General Hospital and Newton Wellesley Hospital and on the faculty of Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Specht's interests are focused on optimizing surgical treatment of breast cancer. She is particularly interested in patient's who must undergo multiple surgeries to complete treatment for their breast cancer. She is actively involved in evaluating new techniques to help minimize multiple operations for the treatment of breast cancer.
Departments, Centers, & Programs:
Clinical Interests:
- Diagnosis and treatment of breast disease
- Intra-operative imaging
- Lymphedema after breast cancer treatment
- Nipple sparing mastectomy
- Optimizing lumpectomy for breast cancer
- Paravertebral block anesthesia during breast surgery
Treats:
- Adult
Locations
Mass General Surgery: Surgical Oncology
55 Fruit St.
Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care
7th Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-724-4000
Mass General Cancer Center
55 Fruit St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-726-9200
Mass General Cancer Center in Waltham
52 Second Ave.
Suite 1110
Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: 781-487-6100
Medical Education
- MD, Cornell University
- Residency, New York Presbyterian
- Residency, The New York Hospital
- Fellowship, Cornell University Medical Center
- Fellowship, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
American Board Certifications
- Surgery, General, American Board of Surgery
Accepted Insurance Plans
- Aetna
- Beech Street
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Cigna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Coventry
- Fallon Health
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- MassHealth
- Medicaid ME
- Medicaid NH
- Medicaid RI
- Medicaid VT
- Medicare
- Medicare ACO
- Multiplan
- Railroad Medicare
- Senior Whole Health
- TriCare
- Tufts Health Plan
- United Health Care
- Wellpoint
- WellSense
- WellSense NH
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
Research
Same Day Surgery for Mastectomy with Reconstruction
Nipple sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction
Intra-operative imaging
Margin assessment
Treatment of lymphedema after breast cancer
High-risk patients
Publications
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Select Publications:
- McGugin CJ, Coopey SB, Smith BL, Kelly BN, Brown CL, Gadd MA, Hughes KS, Specht MC. Enhanced Recovery Minimizes Opioid Use and Hospital Stay for Patients Undergoing Mastectomy with Reconstruction. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Oct;26(11):3464-3471.
- McGugin C, Spivey T, Coopey S, Smith B, Kelly B, Gadd M, Hughes K, Dontchos B, Specht M. Radiofrequency identification tag localization is comparable to wire localization for non-palpable breast lesions. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2019 Oct;177(3):735-739.
- Miller CL, Coopey SB, Rafferty E, Gadd M, Smith BL, Specht MC. Comparison of intra-operative specimen mammography to standard specimen mammography for excision of non-palpable breast lesions: a randomized trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2016 Feb;155(3):513-9.
- Specht MC, Miller CL, Russell TA, Horick N, Skolny MN, O'Toole JA, Jammallo LS, Niemierko A, Sadek BT, Shenouda MN, Finkelstein DM, Smith BL, Taghian AG. Defining a threshold for intervention in breast cancer-related lymphedema: what level of arm volume predicts progression? Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013 Aug; 140(3):485-94.
- Coopey SB, Smith BL, Hanson SA, Buckley JM, Hughes KS, Gadd MA, Specht MC. The Safety of Multiple Re-Excisions after Lumpectomy for Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011 Dec;18(13):3797-801.
Good experience
This was by far the best patient experience I have ever had. From facility appearance and cleanliness, to front office friendliness and helpfulness, to the amazing experience I had with Dr. Specht. I have never had a new provider know my medical history completely without me having to tell them. I am blown away by how amazing everyone is at the ... Read More
The receptionist is the nicest caring individual. She makes a scary place not so scary. The MD was also very kind and she listening to all of my concerns and was very helpful.
Dr Specht was fantastic as was Dr [redacted] on translating my breast MRI to save my breast. [redacted]
Dr. Specht put me right at ease. It was my first visit with her speciality and I was very nervous. She was very reassuring.
Dr. Specht was thoughtful and kind. I have no concerns about her. She is an excellent choice for my surgery.
Michelle Specht seems to be a high-volume breast surgeon who knew my full past medical history of breast cancer and was well informed about treating my current bout of breast cancer.
Amazing. The best doctor! She was great to talk with and very helpful with issues I had. She understood what might be my issue
Absolutely amazing
Very easy to talk to. Very friendly. I was in a nervous, confused state and Dr. Specht relaxed me without me without even realizing. Again, very easy to talk with!