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At the Center for Breast Care of Boca Raton Community Hospital, we want women to know they arc not alone and that many gains have been made in breast care. It is true that breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and that just being a woman increases your risk for the disease. It is also true that 75% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no other obvious risk factors. But the fact is, the advances in treatment have been remarkable, and the inroads in early detection have boosted survival rates to more than 95 percent - providing optimistic outlooks as well as healthy futures. The Center for Breast Care is proud to be part of this future.
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We are committed to every facet of breast health, from prevention, risk-reduction education and wellness education to screening and treatment. Among the services we offer are:
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The Women's Center of Boca Raton Community Hospital has maintained a leadership role in meeting the health needs of more than 10,000 women each year, With the opening of the Center for Breast Care, patients benefit from the most innovative and respected expertise in the diagnosis, treatment and education of breast concerns.
The Center for Breast Care does not stand alone. Its sister facility, The Women's Center, is accredited by the American College of Radiology and is certified by the FDA. Through its partnership with Lynn Regional Cancer Center of Boca Raton Community Hospital, it is a research affiliate of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami. This relationship allows our Center to participate in national research protocols, thus bringing the latest, most promising approaches to patients in South Florida.
Lynn Regional Cancer Center of' Boca Raton Community Hospital brings additional reassurance to Center for Breast Care patients with these credentials:
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The Center for Breast Care is unlike most hospitals and clinics. While our credentials and affiliations alone set us apart, we also have developed a unique, patient-oriented way of diagnosing and treating breast cancer. Our goal is to work with the 10,000 patients we see each year to devise a map for the road ahead, making sure our patients are as informed and comfortable as possible every step of the way.
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The Team ApproachInstead of asking breast care patients - at one of the most frightening times in their lives - to sort through the opinions and advice of different doctors, the Center for Breast Care advocates the team approach. We have staff professionals from all related disciplines - radiologists, oncologists, breast surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, pathologists, nurses, technologists and therapists. Together with patients and their primary-care physicians, these specialists have group discussions to devise a cohesive plan of action. A high-quality, cost-effective method, the team approach improves the quality of medical treatment by bringing together the best minds and the best resources in the best way to serve each patient. |
At the Center for Breast Care, we are committed to keeping patients informed and comfortable so they don't fear what's ahead.
We assign each patient her very own patient-care coordinator - a nurse who provides guidance and information at every turn. This patient-care coordinator can serve as a liaison between doctors, as well as between patient and staff She is here for questions, education, guidance, and reassurance. It's our way, of providing even more peace of mind.
Early detection is the single most powerful tool in fighting breast cancer, The sooner cancer is detected, the more options a woman has for treatment and the better her chance for survival. That's why the Center for Breast Care places such a strong emphasis on early detection - to catch initial cancers, as well as possible recurrences. Methods for early detection include:
| Mammography. This safe, low-dose x-ray of the breast can be a crucial tool in helping discover small lumps -up to two years before they can be felt in a physical exam. The Center for Breast Care provides screening and diagnostic exams, Screening mammograms arc also available in our Mobile Mammography Van, which can be reserved by organizations such as condominium associations, employers and shopping malls. |  |
Breast Self-Exam. Our staff can reach patients how to examine their own breasts each month and, using a lifelike model, can let patients discover how various lumps feel.
Physician Exam. Experienced physicians supplement patient self-exams and mammography, offering professional assistance in the role of early detection.
The initial detection of a lump or mammographic abnormality is the beginning of the diagnostic process. Often a lump is benign - non-cancerous - and the patient continues regular self-exams, mammograms and physician check-ups. Sometimes cancer is present, and the patient is presented with a variety of treatment options.
The staff at the Center for Breast Care may use a variety of methods to accurately diagnose a patient's individual situation.
| Ultrasound. This procedure uses sound waves to provide pictures of suspicious areas in the breast, helping to distinguish between cysts and solid masses. |  |
Fine Needle Aspiration. With a very thin needle, physicians can remove enough tissue and/or fluid from palpable or non-palpable masses to help determine if they are cancerous.
Non-surgical, Digital Stereotactic Breast Biopsy. The Center for Breast Care of Boca Raton Community Hospital was the first in Palm Beach Couny and the second in Florida to employ this advanced technique. Using digital imaging and a computer-guided, hollow-core needle, physicians can determine whether a non-palpable area is cancerous. This one-hour, outpatient procedure is virtually painless, highly accurate and produces no scarring.
| Excisional Biopsy. Physicians sometimes find it necessary to surgically remove all or part of a suspicious mass before they can determine whether it's cancerous. |  |
| MRI. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a radiation-free procedure that provides detailed images of the breast, further defining lumps an pinpointing size and location. MR images also can help physicians evaluate breast implants. |  |
When biopsies indicate the, presence of cancer, immediate surgery is the most effective way to remove the cancer and guard against a possible recurrence. Options include:
Lumpectomy. This is the surgical removal of the Jump and sonic surrounding tissue, a procedure that often can be used in earlier stages of detection.
Mastectomy. The surgical removal of the breast may be necessary if the mass is large, if the cancer is late stage, or if the risk of spreading is high.
Reconstructive Surgery. Patients often choose to have our hi ghly skilled plastic surgeons reconstruct a breast during the mastectomy procedure.
Radiation and Chemotherapy. To help eradicate the cancer, these treatments often used instead of, or in conjunction with surgery. The Center for Breast Care, through Lynn Regional Cancer Center of Boca Raton Community Hospital, offers, the most advanced radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
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The Road to WellnessThe Center for Breast Care rounds out its healthcare program for patients by providing comprehensive risk assessment, wellness education, rehabilitation programs, and counseling opportunities. In addition to physical therapy, including lymphatic massage therapy, the Center for Breast Care also Offers psychosocial counseling and a variety of support groups for patients and their families. We also offer a resource and referral network, as well as a health resource library. Innovation, Compassion, SupportBy putting patients first, the Center for Breast Care together with The Women's Center of Boca Raton Community Hospital is the area leader in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. From our innovative team approach to our research affiliation with nationally renowned facilities, we are dedicated to providing the best possible care for our patients. It's part of our ongoing commitment to keeping the community healthy. |
