Breast Care Program

Call-center or primary-care physician referral based clinic for women with new breast complaints. Located in the General Surgery Department, this clinic is staffed by clinicians from Gynecology and Internal Medicine and collaborates with Radiology breast imaging. We provide initial evaluation of breast lumps, nipple discharge and pinpoint pain. Most evaluations start with video consultation. This allows clinicians to assess the needs of our patents and to coordinate in person breast lump clinic visit with same day breast imaging and biopsy if appropriate. We may perform minor procedures such as cyst aspiration.

Our Breast Imaging Department provides services at both the Geary and Mission Bay Campuses. We offer digital screening and diagnostic mammogram; focused ultrasound and contrast enhanced MRI. Our board certified radiologists perform Ultrasound guided, Stereotactic (mammogram) guided, and MRI guided breast and lymph node biopsies. Together with our dedicated staff of radiology technicians, breast care coordinators and breast cancer navigator we are committed to guiding each patent through the biopsy and resulting process in timely and compassionate way.

Most breast biopsies are done with radiology guidance. These are called core needle biopsy. On occasion we may perform a fine needle aspirate or biopsy in the Breast Lump Clinic or by our Breast Surgeons in our office procedure room. Tissue is processed within our College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited Kaiser laboratories and slides are reviewed by board certified pathologists. Our dedicated breast pathologists collaborate with breast imagers, breast surgeons and medical oncologists to provide high quality diagnoses in a timely manner.

The Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Clinic and Tumor Board meet weekly to treat newly diagnosed breast cancer patents and review complex treatment plans for established patents. This clinic is coordinated by our Breast Cancer Navigator who is first to meet our patents with biopsy test results. A collaborative case review of each patent starts with a review of breast imaging by our radiologist and biopsy tissue review by our pathologist. Treatment plans are then developed in collaboration with the breast surgical oncologist, plastic & reconstructive surgery, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist, genetic counsellor and social worker. Patents are seen in the office by multiple providers and leave with a treatment plan.

The Hereditary Cancer Program is a referral-based bi-monthly multidisciplinary clinic. This clinic offers counseling and treatment for patents with known genetic test results or strong family history that place them at high risk for developing breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer. Lead by our genetic counsellors, each patent’s case is reviewed by breast surgical oncologists, plastic and reconstructive surgeons as well as gynecologic oncologists to develop treatment options tailored to your specific cancer risks. At your appointment you will meet with one or more specialists who discuss care options most appropriate for you and explain how you can help lower your cancer risk and improve your chances of early detection. If you are traveling from a distance we offer video consultations after which continued monitoring or even surgery can be done at your local hospital.

Our comprehensive breast cancer program has clinical trials available to our members from the time of diagnosis to survivorship. We are studying the latest and most innovative treatments in breast cancer and in care delivery. And we are constantly looking for ways to expand the research program to fit our patents and their families’ needs. Please ask your care team if you are interested in being part of our innovative clinical trials program.