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Comprehensive Breast Health ServicesClick to find:
Truly Comprehensive Breast Health Care Sibley has been certified by the American College of Surgeons as an accredited cancer program, and in 2007 its cancer program earned a commendation from the American College of Surgeons. The Sullivan Center for Breast Health serves Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. What Comprehensive Means For You Treating breast disease often requires the interaction of specialists from multiple departments including surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, plastic surgery, physical therapy, behavioral medicine and nursing. Comprehensive breast centers like Sibley coordinate all of these services to provide the best possible care for each patient. The Breast Center Nurse Navigator coordinates all aspects of a patient’s care--from diagnosis and treatment through recovery. Contact our Nurse Navigator for more information. Sullivan Center For Breast Health Offers The "Gold Standard" Of Breast Care Sibley fulfills the National Consortium of Breast Centers' requirements for providing "comprehensive" breast care. While other centers may staff some specialists from surgery and breast imaging, only a comprehensive breast center organizes breast surgery, radiation oncology, pathology, medical oncology and breast radiology into an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that benefits the patient. Also included are psychosocial support, oncology nursing, genetic and nutrition counseling, community outreach and more. Dedicated Breast Radiologists Find More Breast Cancers Earlier Early intervention is key to effective breast cancer treatment and mammograms are among the best tools for early detection. An accurate reading is critical. A 2007 study by Seattle's Group Health Cooperative found that accuracy in reading mammograms varies tremendously, with some radiologists missing as many as 40 percent of tumors. The best results, the study found, came from diagnostic centers staffed with breast-imaging experts like our Dr. Rebecca Zuurbier and Dr. Pouneh Razavi. For Your First Mammogram Or Any Mammogram Your first mammogram is important. It is usually known as a screening mammogram, which provides a baseline reading of what your healthy breasts look like. In order to identify any changes in the breast tissue, your mammograms in years to come will be compared to these first films. That comparison helps identify changes that could signal the early development of breast cancer or other problems. Click here for more information on mammograms Using state-of-the-art digital equipment allows us to get information quickly, which streamlines the mammogram process for women. The use of digital equipment for mammograms has been shown to improve detection for women under age 50, premenopausal women and women with dense breasts. A National Model The Sullivan Center has emerged as a national model for the refined use of medically advanced technology. Our goal is always achieving the most accurate results in the least invasive way. Breast Ultrasound If an ultrasound if appropriate, a dedicated breast radiologist personally scans each patient. And, given the intricacies involved in reading breast ultrasound studies, our radiologists are specially trained to read and understand the range of breast findings through mammography and ultrasound, all with a spatial understanding of the lesion in the compressed breast and correlative physical examination. Certification Mammography services at the Sibley Center for Breast Health are certified by the American College of Radiology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These certifications require peer review evaluations of the facility's staff qualifications, equipment and quality control, ensuring you optimum quality mammographic examinations. The mammography technologists who conduct mammograms at Sibley are registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and have advanced certification in mammography. Breast Biopsies: Least Invasive Is Our Goal Sibley's Sullivan Center for Breast Health in Washington DC has emerged as a national model in providing expert care using the most minimally invasive breast imaging and biopsy treatments possible. Many advanced breast biopsy techniques are available to breast care patients at Sibley. Your physician will discuss options for your specific situation. Sullivan Center: Pioneers in Sentinel Node Breast Biopsies Sibley was among the first breast health centers in the nation to practice sentinel lymph node biopsy. This is a diagnostic procedure in which just a few breast lymph nodes are removed for review by a pathologist for the presence of breast cancer cells. This breast biopsy approach spares the patient from having all auxiliary lymph nodes removed. Stereotactic Breast Biopsy Stereotactic breast biopsies are performed by Sibley breast surgeons and dedicated breast radiologists. Stereotactic breast biopsy uses digital mammography to position the biopsy needle with pinpoint accuracy while the woman is comfortably lying down. Ultrasound-Guided Breast Biopsy Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy uses ultrasound to guide the biopsy needle into position. Its advantages are speed and comfortable positioning. All ultrasound-guided breast biopsies at Sibley are performed by Dr. Zuurbier and Dr. Razavi. Breast MRI Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging modality. As opposed to mammograms that use radiation (x-rays), MRI uses a magnetic field, radio waves and computer software to produce detailed pictures of breast tissue. MRI of the breast is not a replacement for annual mammograms. It is used as a problem-solving tool following a questionable mammogram or ultrasound finding. Additionally, recently published American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines and a New England Journal of Medicine study support MRI screening as a supplement to mammography for women at high risk for developing breast cancer. The American Cancer Society defines a woman as high risk if she has one or more of the following: BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation; a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation; lifetime risk of breast cancer score greater than 20%-25% (based on accepted risk assessment tools); history of radiation to the chest prior to age 30; Li-Fraumeni syndrome; Cowden syndrome; or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba. Clinical Services And Support For Breast Health Care
Breast Cancer Support For Patients And Families Sibley's support services are geared towards helping women and their families during breast cancer treatment and into recovery from breast cancer. These include
Events And Education To learn more about breast health, prevention and breast cancer treatment: |
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