Breast Cancer Screening and Treatment

All of us at the Women’s Center are committed to detecting, treating and defeating breast cancer. It’s an unfortunate fact that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. If detected early, the cure rate for breast cancer is 98 percent.

Women age 40 and above should have a mammogram and clinical breast exam every year and perform breast self-examination monthly. Those at higher than average risk should to talk to their physician about starting screening earlier. Women between the ages of 20 and 39 should have a clinical breast exam every three years and should perform breast self-examination monthly.

New, digital mammogram equipment, as well as Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) technology that accompanies the radiologists’ reading of mammograms, demonstrates that OSF is committed to providing up-to-date care.

In certain populations, the digital mammogram is superior to the traditional analog, incuding perimenopausal women under the age of 50 who have had a menstrual cycle within the last year and those with dense breast tissue.

The best way to defeat breast cancer is early detection. The Women’s Center is home to four dedicated mammography suites in additiion to the digitasl mammography. You will be taken to a private changing room that is connected to a mammography suite. With this arrangement, you will never be in a public area and never encounter anyone except your technician.

Radiologists provide diagnostic results on the same day to help lessen your anxiety. This spells the end of the traditional and often anguishing three- or four-day wait to learn the results of your test. This year, about 9,000 mammograms will be performed at the Women’s Center.

A woman needs to feel that she is cared about, not just as a patient but as a person.  We do that through our staff who have a passion for what they do as well as a gentleness and kindness.

Women diagnosed with breast cancer are welcome to attend a free breast cancer support group meeting held once a month.  Call 815-227-2618 for information.

Stereotactic
Breast Biopsy
When the results of a diagnostic mammogram indicate that further testing is needed, an appointment for a stereotactic breast biopsy or ultrasound is scheduled. This procedure involves the use of a fine needle to extract tissue samples, a technique that often eliminates the need for further treatment and surgery. To help alleviate your anxiety, most stereotactic breast biopsy procedures are scheduled within one week. We will provide you the results of the procedure the following business day.

If you need additional treatment, the physicians and staff of the OSF Saint Anthony Center for Cancer Care are available to provide quality, compassionate care.

Ultrasound
The ultrasound department in the Women’s Center is accredited by the American College of Radiology for ultrasound studies in obstetrics, for ultrasound- guided interventions in breast biopsies as well as for general use, such as in laproscopic gallbladder surgery. A number of our sonographers are preparing for the Breast Ultrasound Registry, which has just recently been introduced. A new advanced state-of-the-art ultrasound system is part of the Women's Center diagnostic services.