Breast health

Medications, such as tamoxifen, raloxifene and aromatase inhibitors, may be prescribed if you are at a high risk for breast cancer. Receiving regular mammograms is also important, because they can help us make a diagnosis early, as well as identify and treat precancerous growths. If you are 40 years old or older, and you are considered high risk, you should begin getting mammograms earlier in life.

Other ways you can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer include:

• Avoid smoking
• Get two to three hours of exercise per week
• Limit hormone therapy after menopause
• Limit your alcohol intake
• Maintain a healthy weight

We offer advanced diagnostic procedures for detecting breast cancer and diseases, including 3D digital mammography with computer-aided detection.

Imaging services available to you include:

• 3D mammography
• Bone densitometry screening
• Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Breast ultrasound
• Mammography

Procedures we use to accurately diagnose breast disorders in the early stages include:

• MRI-guided breast ultrasound — Locates unusual or suspicious cells in your breast and removes them
• Needle aspiration — Pulls fluid from a lump inside your breast
• Positron emission tomography (PET) and computerized tomography (CT) fusion scan — Produces a clear and exact image of breast disease that may be hard to find otherwise
• Stereotactic breast biopsy and needle localization — Removes suspicious cells during a mammogram

Our facility has received American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation for high-quality breast imaging services, including mammograms, breast MRIs and breast biopsies.

Additionally, the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) recognizes our reputation for providing the latest in medical technology, effective screening procedures and wide-ranging, state-of-the-art breast care treatments and services.

Breast reconstruction typically involves multiple stages, usually with a minimum of two surgeries. In most cases, the first surgery is the "biggest," with subsequent surgeries typically done on an outpatient basis.

We perform a large variety of breast surgeries and reconstruction procedures, including:

• Autologous reconstruction — Using your own tissue to rebuild your breast; types of autologous reconstruction we offer include:
  • Deep inferior epigastric perforators (DIEP)
  • Goldilocks procedure
  • Inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP)
  • Latissimus flap surgery (with or without fat grafting)
  • Lumbar artery perforator (LAP)
  • Superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIES) flap surgery
  • Superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP)
  • Transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) or muscle-sparing TRAM (msTRAM) flap surgery
  • Transverse upper gracilis (TUG) flaps
• Hybrid reconstruction — Combining implants and autologous tissue
• Implant-based reconstruction — Replacing your breast with an implant that mimics your breast's shape and size, following a mastectomy or lumpectomy; types of implant based reconstruction we offer include:
  • Direct-to-implant, a one-step implant immediate breast reconstruction
  • Immediate expander placement, followed by staged implant reconstruction
• Mastectomy — Removing your entire breast to treat breast cancer; types of mastectomies we offer include:
  • Skin sparing
  • Nipple sparing
  • Skin reducing

Our specialists also excel at performing DIEP flap surgery, a procedure that involves rebuilding your breasts with your own tissue after a mastectomy. We use blood vessels, skin and fat, most commonly taken from your lower abdomen, and transfer this tissue to your chest. Benefits of DIEP flap may include long lasting results that have a natural appearance.

We give you access to services and resources that empower you to make informed decisions and get proven treatments for your breast health. Breast cancer prevention is one of our top priorities. Genetic counseling is available if you are considered high-risk for breast cancer due to family history, previous biopsy findings, genetic predisposition or lifestyle risk factors.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, we will connect you with a sympathetic, multidisciplinary team of doctors, surgeons and nurses who will collaborate on the best options for your care. Your team will support you through each stage of your journey, including diagnosis and recovery.

We understand that not all of your needs are medical. This is the reason why we offer many different resources, including:

• American Cancer Society patient navigator
• Breast health education
• "Look Good Feel Better" program
• Oncology nutrition classes
• Wellness lectures and support groups
• Young survivor support group

In addition to these resources, we make a library available to you that contains information about breast cancer and breast health. You get free internet access to search for information online, as well.

Our team also collaborates with organizations to integrate community services and medical care in the local community. These partnerships give you an expanded network of resources, and they include:

• American Cancer Society
• The Caring Place
• Women's Health Connection

Breast health nurse navigators

We encourage you to get involved in your treatment options. As part of this initiative, we give you access to breast health nurse navigators, who can act as a liaison between you and your medical team. Your nurse navigator will answer questions for you, provide support to you and help guide you through your breast cancer journey.

Services that our nurse navigators offer include:

• Act as a liaison between you and your doctors to help you understand medical recommendations
• Assist you if your mammogram is abnormal
• Coordinate your services with any department involved in your care
• Ensure that follow-up appointments are scheduled in a timely manner and when it is convenient for you
• Ensure that you have the educational resources and support services necessary to get high-quality care
• Follow up on exam and test results to ensure you receive them in a timely manner
• Help you make informed decisions about your breast care plan
• Inform you about procedures and treatment plans
• Offer support and assistance as you prepare for, and recover from, a breast biopsy
• Promote communication between you and your medical team
• Refer you and your loved ones to resources and support services
• Share community resources for medical equipment
• Supply educational resources on breast health, breast cancer and breast care

We developed the Caring for Colleagues program to help organizations make time for their employees to get a mammogram and encourage them to do so.