LMC's advanced technology
in breast cancer diagnosis.
As part of its Women’s Health Services, Lexington Medical Center is proud to offer a major initiative in the fight against breast cancer with our Breast Health program of rapid diagnosis, education and support.
The major impetus for the new Breast Health program is a simple one—women stand a 90 percent chance of remission and control of breast cancer with early diagnosis. That is why our Breast Health staff is making it possible for rapid entry into the medical system—a system that will provide a network of education and emotional support. Under our program, a patient who detects a lump will be seen within 24 hours. Furthermore, this concerted effort between radiologists, pathologists and physicians will enable the Breast Health medical staff to streamline the process of detection to diagnosis in only five days.
All of us have a personal responsibility to maintain our bodies by performing proactive measures to ensure optimum health. Women, in particular, need to check their bodies for any abnormalities and are especially encouraged to look for breast lumps through self-examination. Admittedly, there is nothing more unnerving than discovering you have a lump in your breast. However, Lexington Medical Center’s Breast Health program has been created to deal with this concern in the most efficient manner possible. While roughly 80 percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, the natural reaction in women is one of great anxiety. It is LMC’s desire to greatly reduce this anxiety as well as the stress associated with finding a lump in your breast. While there is no "typical case" when it comes to breast lumps, our "5 Day Detection to Diagnosis Program" will do just that—provide a definitive answer about the health of your breast within 5 days* of first discovering a lump.
If you discover a change in your breast or detect any lumpiness that does not feel normal, you need to inform your doctor of the finding and seek his care and guidance.
Day One:
Through Self-Detection, You Notice a Lump
Once you have detected a suspicious lump through self-examination, you should call your physician immediately. In particular, post-menopausal women should come in as soon as possible as they are high-risk candidates for breast cancer. LMC’s Breast Health staff will work with your personal physician to schedule examinations within 24 hours of a patient’s self-detection.
Day Two: Follow Doctor’s Orders
After you have been examined by your physician, you should follow his or her instructions for additional diagnostic procedures. Some physicians may recommend a mammogram, lump analysis or ultrasound, and others may wish to perform a stereotactic biopsy, a non-surgical method of diagnosis.
Day Three: Tests are Performed
If the diagnostic plan called for mammography, the results will be provided back to you and your physician by the next day. If further diagnostics are indicated, you will be scheduled for additional tests such as a biopsy of the suspicious lump. The biopsy may be performed by an ultra-sound, stereotactic procedure or surgery.
Day Four: The Sample is Diagnosed
Once the biopsy has been completed, the sample is then rushed to the pathology lab within the hospital where our physician will effectively and accurately determine the nature of the breast lump. Your physician will then receive a report from the pathologist with information as to whether or not the sample was benign or malignant.
Day Five: Post-Biopsy
Lexington Medical Center’s Pathology staff and Breast Health staff will provide test results to your physician within 24 hours of the biopsy. If needed, treatment options will be discussed with the patient.
|
