Breast Health
Comprehensive Breast Care in Spokane
Providence Breast Health delivers expert screening, diagnosis, treatment and compassionate support in Spokane, offering advanced technology and personalized care to guide you confidently through every step of your breast health journey.
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Our Approach
Your breast health is personal, and even when you keep up with screenings, taking preventive steps can feel overwhelming. That’s completely understandable. Breast cancer is the second-most common cancer among women in the U.S., and nearly 1 in 8 women will face some form of it in their lifetime. That’s why staying proactive and getting regular breast care is so important.
But you don’t have to face any of this alone. At Providence Breast Health, your care begins with a dedicated breast care coordinator who walks with you from the start. They’re here to answer your questions, provide education and support you through each step.
If a screening shows something concerning, our experienced team is here for you — from early prevention through treatment and recovery. Your breast care coordinator and breast clinic nurse will guide you through your options and connect you with the resources you need. Their goal is to help you feel informed, supported and confident as you make decisions about your care.
A Collaborative Approach to Your Care
Our Services, Conditions and Treatments
Services
- Breast Care
- Genetics And Genomics
- Cancer Care
Conditions
- Benign Breast Disease
- Breast Cancer
- Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
- High-Risk Breast Conditions
- Male Breast Cancer
- Metastatic Breast Cancer
Treatments
- 3-D Conformal Radiotherapy
- Aesthetic flat closure mastectomy
- Breast Cancer Chemotherapy
- Endocrine Therapy
- HER2 Targeting Therapy
- Hypofractionated Whole Breast Radiation Therapy
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
- Immunotherapy
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
- Lumpectomy (Breast Conservation Surgery)
- Mastectomy
- Nipple-sparing mastectomy
- Oncoplastic lumpectomy
- Risk-Reducing Mastectomy
- Savi Scout® System
- Skin-Sparing Mastectomy
- Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)
Diagnostics
- Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
- Breast Biopsy
- Excisional Breast Biopsy
- Excisional Breast Biopsy Using Targeted Localization Techniques
- Genetic Testing and Counseling
- Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
- Sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy
Insurances Accepted
- Aetna
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO
- Aetna PPO
- Asuris Northwest Health Medicare Advantage PPO
- Asuris Northwest Health PPO
- Asuris Northwest Health TRIWEST
- Blue Cross Of Idaho Health Service Medicaid
- Blue Cross Of Idaho Health Service Medicare Advantage
- Blue Cross Of Idaho Health Service PPO
- Cigna Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO
- Cigna PPO
- Coordinated Care Medicaid
- Evernorth PPO
- Ferry County Jail
- First Choice PPO
- First Health-Coventry PPO
- HealthSmart (Interplan) PPO
- Humana
- Humana HMO
- Humana PPO
- Interwest Health PPO
- Kaiser
- Kaiser Medicare Advantage
- Molina Medicaid
- Molina Medicare Advantage
- Naphcare
- Pacific Medical Center TRICARE
- Pacific Source Health Medicare Advantage-HMO
- Pacific Source Health PPO
- Premera
- Premera, Medicare Advantage
- Providence Health Plan
- Providence Health Plan Medicare Advantage-HMO
- Regence Blue Shield Of Idaho Medicare Advantage PPO
- Regence Blue Shield Of Idaho PPO
- Regence BlueShield Of Washington Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO
- Regence BlueShield Of Washington PPO
- State Of Washington Department Of Corrections
- Stevens County Sheriff'S Office
- TriWest - Tricare
- United Behavioral Health Medicaid* * Medicaid product only for Idaho
- United Behavioral Health Medicare Advantage
- United Behavioral Health PPO
- United Healthcare
- United Healthcare Medicaid,
- United Healthcare, Medicare Advantage
- Wellcare Medicare Advantage-HMO
- Wellpoint Medicaid
- Wellpoint Medicare Advantage
Advanced Treatment Options for Breast Cancer
Your exact treatment always depends on your specific diagnosis, but we give you the power to make shared decisions with your multidisciplinary care team. Together, we'll create an individualized treatment plan that matches your needs and keeps you as comfortable as possible.
Aesthetic flat closure is a type of mastectomy where breast tissue is removed, and the chest is closed to create a smooth, flat appearance. This option is for patients who choose not to have breast reconstruction.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy removes breast tissue but leaves the nipple, areola and surrounding skin intact. This can result in more natural-looking breasts and improved outcomes from breast reconstruction.
Oncoplastic lumpectomy involves removing a breast tumor and moving tissue to make the result look as natural as possible. This approach could decrease the need for reconstructive surgery.
Sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy help identify lymph nodes that are most likely to contain cancerous cells – known as sentinel nodes. Surgeons inject radioisotope and/or blue dye into the area near the tumor to locate these sentinel nodes, helping to determine the stage of cancer and removal of potentially compromised nodes before the cancer has a chance to spread further.
Map & Directions
Frequently Asked Questions
Mammograms are one of the most important tools doctors have in breast cancer prevention and early detection.
Recommendations for when you should schedule your mammogram depend on a variety of factors, including age and increased risk.
- Mammograms are recommended annually for women age 40-54.
- Women 55 and older can switch to mammograms every 2 years, or continue yearly screenings.
- In some cases, screening recommendations begin at an earlier age. If you have an increased risk for breast cancer, we recommend regular screenings. Your health care provider can help identify if you’re at an increased risk.
- You may choose to have a screening earlier and/or more often if you feel the benefit outweighs the potential concern.
We utilize digital mammography, which provides clearer, more accurate X-ray images. This means shorter examination times, quicker results, more convenience and less anxiety for you.
- Before scheduling a mammogram, please speak with your doctor about any recent problems or abnormalities concerning your breasts.
- If you’ve had previous mammograms, make them available to the radiologist. It’s helpful for the radiologist to compare previous images with the new ones.
- Don’t schedule your mammogram the week before your period if your breasts are usually tender during this time. The best time is one week after your period.
- Always inform your doctor or radiology technician if there’s a possibility that you’re pregnant.
- Don’t wear deodorant, talcum powder or lotion under your arms on the day of your mammogram. These can appear as calcium spots on X-rays.
Before the examination, you’ll be given a hospital gown or a loose-fitting drape that opens in the front. You’ll be asked to remove all jewelry and clothing above the waist.
A radiologic technologist will position you at the mammography unit to image each breast. The breast will be placed on a firm, flat X-ray surface and compressed with firm, gentle pressure from the mammography device. The compression causes discomfort for some women, but most find it to be painless.
Breast compression is necessary to:
- Allow the use of a lower X-ray dose
- Create a sharper picture · Hold the breast still, eliminating blurring of the image
- Spread out the breast thickness so that all tissue can be visualized
- Spread out the tissue so that small abnormalities won’t be obscured
While the breast is compressed, the radiologic technologist will take an X-ray, helping you change positions slightly between images. Generally, mammograms include a top-to-bottom view and a side view of the breast tissue. The process is repeated for each breast.
In the very earliest stages, breast cancer has no outward symptoms. Sometimes the earliest sign is a tiny lump, or mass, that’s only detectable on a mammogram. As the disease progresses, however, more noticeable changes might appear. These can vary widely – while a lump is the most common symptom, it’s by no means the only one.
Any of the following changes could be a warning sign of breast cancer:
- Bloody nipple discharge or unilateral discharge other than breast milk
- Dimpling, puckering, irritation or scaliness of the breast skin or nipple
- Lump in the breast or armpit area
- Nipple that turns inward, flattens out, pulls to one side or changes direction
- Pain or tenderness in the breast or nipple
- Swelling in all or part of the breast
- Thickening or redness of the breast skin
These symptoms may be signs of breast cancer in men as well as women.