When it comes to total breast care, The Breast Center, a service of Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, believes in a team approach. The Breast Center’s multidisciplinary staff includes breast surgeons and on-site radiologists and technologists dedicated to breast imaging. Patients in Southern Illinois have access to this excellent care in a new location when The Breast Center opened in July at the University Mall in Carbondale. Designed for patient convenience and comfort, the location has a private entrance and a designated parking area.
Dana West, women’s imaging manager, said the volume of patients nearly doubled when the facility at Cedar Court began providing digital mammograms and other new services. A relocation of the Center to a larger facility was necessary to better serve the needs of area women. “The new place doubles the size of The Breast Center, allowing for larger, more comfortable waiting room and changing room facilities, as well as biopsy services,” West said.
According to surgeon Marsha Ryan, M.D., the new location allows patients to be diagnosed and treated more quickly. Radiologist Chris Russell, M.D., agrees. “On site biopsy capability benefit patients by providing improved turn around time from discovery to diagnosis,” Dr. Russell said. “This reduction in wait time adds to convenience and potentially reduces anxiety.” According to Jennifer Badiu, administrative director, a 24-hour window between detection and diagnosis will be possible for most patients, since all services will be available under one roof.
Surgeon Ronald Mattison, M.D., said that the streamlined process results from a collaborative effort to treat the whole patient. “The new Center is equipped to offer a full range of leading edge breast screening options and the latest in minimally invasive biopsies. The patient can have a diagnostic workup, clinical consultation with the breast surgeon, and biopsy if needed, all in one visit.”
The Breast Center also provides women with education and continual observation. Often, the family physician or OB/GYN refers the patient to the Center for a consultation or tests based on family history or a breast change. “Dr. Mattison offers genetic counseling and conducts risk assessments,” Badiu said. “There are options women can choose, such as daily living changes and medications, to help prevent cancer and other breast diseases.”
According to Badiu, during genetic counseling and risk assessment, the surgeon examines the likelihood of breast cancer as well as full body risks such as ovarian and cervical cancer in order to detect any disease as early as possible. This genetic counseling may be covered by insurance for patients who meet certain criteria.
The Center provides routine yearly screening mammograms as well as diagnostic mammography and breast physical exams for women who are at increased risk or have a breast symptom. A physician’s order is not necessary to make an appointment for an annual screening.
The Center also includes a designated treatment planning area for families. “This space allows the patient’s family and medical professionals to come together and discuss what options are available and determine the best plan for them,” West said. “They’ll also meet with our breast health navigator, who will provide them with a checklist to help with determining their best plan of action and a list of community resources
available to them.”
“We are very excited about our organization’s commitment to cancer diagnosis and treatment,” Badiu said. “When patients have a breast issue or other health issue, the waiting period to learn the actual diagnosis is naturally very stressful for them and their loved ones. By receiving a definitive answer promptly, they can move forward with relief or learn their options and prepare themselves to proceed with treatment.”
The Breast Center provides comprehensive services that combine state-of-the-art
diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in a supportive environment.
These services include:
- Digital mammography (screening and diagnostic)
- Computer aided detection
- Breast ultrasound
- Cyst aspirations and ductograms
- Stereotactic and ultrasound-guided core biopsies
- Needle localizations
- Sentinel node mapping
- Same day comprehensive breast consultation
- High-risk surveillance program
- Surgical breast cancer treatment
- Genetic counseling
- Breast self exam training
- Breast health patient navigation program
- Breast cancer support group
For an appointment at the new Breast Center, call 618-457-2281. For a referral, please call the physician referral line at 866-744-2468.