Digital Mammography
Early Detection Is Your Best Defense For Finding Breast Cancer Breast cancer will affect an average of one in eight women during their lifetime. Early detection, including mammography, is your best defense for finding breast cancer in its most curable stages. The Providence Saint Joseph Breast Health Center offers a revolutionary new technology called full-field digital mammography that offers far greater accuracy than conventional screen-film mammograms. In addition, computer aided diagnosis increases radiologists’ detection of breast cancer up to 20 percent when used in conjunction with screening mammography. Images are higher-resolution so physicians can view the breast in more detail. The physician can zoom in for close-ups or change contrast or brightness to reveal more subtle forms of cancer. There are fewer exposures needed to get a complete image of the breast and less need for retakes – reducing a woman’s exposure to X-rays. In fact, our digital mammography system provides faster exam time, accommodates all breast sizes with a single exposure and uses the natural mobility of the breast for greater comfort during testing.
Full Body Osteoporosis Screening
The Fast, Convenient and Precise Way
Osteoporosis and related bone disorders pose a serious threat to 44 million Americans. Up to 25 percent of postmenopausal women have fractures, yet many don’t know it because spinal fractures are often painless. We have combined the latest DXA bone densitometry – the fast, convenient and precise way to measure a person’s risk of developing osteoporosis and future fractures – with an additional capability called Instant Vertebral Assessment™ (IVA). This allows physicians to detect existing spinal fractures so we can recommend treatment to dramatically reduce your risk of future fractures. The IVA is faster and exposes you to much less radiation than a conventional spinal X-ray.
Minimally Invasive Breast Diagnostic Procedures
The Latest, Most Innovative Diagnostic Services
Fortunately, most breast lumps are not cancerous. Yet if a lump is found, it must be properly examined and diagnosed. We offer a full range of the latest, most innovative diagnostic services that are renowned for accuracy, while offering far less pain, scarring or anxiety than traditional surgical biopsies. These include minimally invasive biopsies such as the Mammotome under stereotactic guidance that allows the extraction of tiny abnormalities which can be the earliest sign of breast cancer. Other advanced techniques include ultrasound-guided core biopsy, fine needle aspiration, ductograms, and cyst aspiration. Breast ultrasounds and PET scans allow sophisticated imaging of tissue without being invasive. A Nurse Care Coordinator will walk you through your entire experience from making your appointment, working with your physicians and guiding you through your care.
Breast MRI
The Newest Technologies
The Breast Health Center offers one of the newest technologies in the detection and assessment of breast cancer — Breast MRI. While it is not a replacement for mammography, it may be used to detect small lesions that may be missed by mammography, produce successful images of dense breasts (usually found in younger women) or take images of women who have breast implants.
Ground Breaking Research
Leading-edge Cancer Research
Our distinguished team of oncologists nurses and staff are actively involved in leading-edge cancer research. We participate in nationally recognized clinical trials giving our patients access to a number of therapies not generally available.
Higher Breast Preservation and Survival Rates
The Best Cancer Survival Statistics In The Country
Today’s cancer treatment helps preserve your breast as well as your self-esteem. If breast cancer is detected early, breast preservation (a lumpectomy combined with post-operative radiation) is frequently an accepted alternative to complete removal of the breast (mastectomy). Our breast preservation therapy rate is 88 percent compared to a national average of 57 percent. We are also proud to have some of the best cancer survival statistics in the country. For breast cancer, our survival rates are 10 percent higher than the national average when comparing our database stage by stage to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB).
Prevention and Support
Physically And Emotionally
At the Providence Saint Joseph Breast Health Center, we’re committed to helping you stay healthy – physically and emotionally – whether you’re at risk for a disease or are recovering from one. If you’ve been newly diagnosed with breast cancer, Breast Friends offers one-to-one support from women who are survivors themselves. If you’re seeking to reduce your risk of osteoporosis, the Osteoporosis Prevention Program provides a personalized consultation with a Registered Dietitian, together with a customized and monitored exercise program.
To make an appointment for a screening at the Providence Saint Joseph Breast Health Center call 818-847-4999.For more information about the Center or to receive a free referral to a primary care physician or specialist, call 1-888-HEALING (1-888-432-5464).
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