Part of taking charge of your health is through a monthly breast self-exam and a regular clinical breast examination by a healthcare professional. Mammography and other diagnostic procedures aid in early detection, the key to effective treatment.
The Breast Care Center at Baptist Hospital East offers a wide range of breast health services delivered by trained professionals who can coordinate follow-up visits, if needed, and answer questions.
Comfort and convenience are stressed at the Center, located in the mammography area of the hospital in the first-floor outpatient center.
Patients check in directly at the Center, which offers screening and diagnostic mammography and other diagnostic techniques, including ultrasound, aspiration (removing fluid from a lump for lab analysis), needle localizations and stereotactic breast biopsy (Mammotome®).
Women coming to the Breast Care Center at Baptist East can expect a softer, warmer mammogram. The Center uses an FDA-approved foam cushion, called the Woman’s Touch® MammoPad®, designed to ease the discomfort many women feel when they get a mammogram.
Patients most likely to benefit from using MammoPad include women with a history of breast cancer, previous pain with a mammography, recent surgery, breast implants, first-time mammograms, those taking hormone therapy, women with small or heavy breasts or those with high-anxiety about the procedure. The cushion also aids men who require a mammogram. The single-use adhesive-backed foam cushion attaches to the mammography device’s metal compression plates. The cushion, which is hypoallergenic and latex-free, does not interfere with X-rays. Patients like it because it’s soft, warm and helps ease the painful compression, pinching and stretching of a mammogram.
Highly trained technicians guide women through the mammography process. Results are then read by a board-certified radiologist. To double-check results, radiologists use the R2 ImageCheckerTM, a computerized aid which can detect small and subtle signs associated with cancer.
Women who have a mammogram will receive an easy-to-understand report on the results, as will their physician. If problems are noted, a second diagnostic mammogram may be needed. Diagnostic mammograms are used to assess specific symptoms or unusual breast changes such as a lump, pain or changes in breast size and shape.
Special attention is given to women having a diagnostic mammogram. To help ease the anxiety of waiting, these patients receive their mammography results the same day as their appointment. If the results show an abnormality, the patient's physician is also notified that same day.
Results will be explained by a healthcare professional. Breast Health Coordinators Valinda Petri, RN, and Angela Kelley, RN -- who have a combined 30 years' experience in nursing, plus specialized training in breast health management -- can discuss and answer patient questions.
The coordinators can help schedule timely follow-up appointments with physician specialists for any breast abnormalities or problems. Future biopsy appointments may also be scheduled prior to leaving the Center.
Patients with additional follow-up questions about their diagnosis or treatment may call the dedicated Breast Center phone line at (502) 897-8069.
While patients may schedule their appointments with the hospital directly by calling (502) 897-8888, a physician's order is required. Every effort will be made to pre-register patients by telephone. Whether pre-registered or not, patients can check in directly at the Center.
If this is your first visit to Baptist East, and your last mammogram was performed at another facility, you must pick up and bring the previous films with you.
You will be asked for information about your medical history and to provide a list of all medications you are currently taking. Breast disease may be inherited, so the more you know about your family's medical past, the easier it will be to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment.
For more information, contact the Breast Care Center at Baptist East,
(502) 897-8069.
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